The ancestors of today’s Texas Longhorn originated in the Andalusian Mountains of Southwestern Spain (Iberian Peninsula)
CTLR Texas Senate Proclamation 173
History
Brought to the New World by Spanish explorers and missionaries in 1591, these descendants of Criollo cattle were the first breed of cattle to step foot in the New World. The ONLY breed to evolve without human intervention.
What is estimated to have started with 30 heifers and three bull calves, over the course of 300 years, evolved into the tens of millions.
Heritage
Three hundred years of roaming wild and free, resulted in independent, hardy animals with unique features, coloring, and genetics.
In the decade following the Civil War
Soldiers returning from war were greeted by deserted and burned farms/ranches; nothing from which to make a living except for millions of wild and rangy cattle.
The next 25 years
Found millions of them being driven up trails to hungry markets in the East by men such as Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving. Out of these epic cattle drives came the legendary American Cowboy.
The turn of the 20th century
Found the Texas Longhorn on the brink of extinction. The invention of barbed wire, a series of devastating droughts/harsh winters, and most damaging of all, crossbreeding with fattier European breeds, decimated herds.
Today
The population of the original Texas Longhorn is estimated to be only three thousand worldwide and is listed on The Livestock Conservancy’s list of 150 Critically Endangered Breeds.
Three hundred years of roaming wild and free, resulted in independent, hardy animals with unique features, coloring, and genetics.
In the decade following the War Between the States
Men returning from war, found deserted and burned farms/ranches; nothing from which to make a living except for millions of wild and rangy cattle.
The next 25 years
Found millions of them being driven up trails to hungry markets in the East, by men such as Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving. It was these epic drives that gave way to the legend of the American Cowboy.
The turn of the 20th century
found the Texas Longhorn on the brink of extinction. The invention of barbed wire, a series of devastating droughts/harsh winters and most damaging of all; crossbreeding with fattier European breeds, decimated herds.
Today
The population of the original Texas Longhorn is estimated to be at only three thousand worldwide and is listed on The Livestock Conservancy’s list of 150 Critically Endangered Breeds.
Three hundred years of roaming wild and free, resulted in independent, hardy animals with unique features, coloring, and genetics.
In the decade following the War Between the States
Men returning from war, found deserted and burned farms/ranches; nothing from which to make a living except for millions of wild and rangy cattle.
The next 25 years
Found millions of them being driven up trails to hungry markets in the East, by men such as Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving. It was these epic drives that gave way to the legend of the American Cowboy.
The turn of the 20th century
Found the Texas Longhorn on the brink of extinction. The invention of barbed wire, a series of devastating droughts/harsh winters and most damaging of all; crossbreeding with fattier European breeds, decimated herds.
Today
The population of the original Texas Longhorn is estimated to be at only three thousand worldwide and is listed on The Livestock Conservancy’s list of 150 Critically Endangered Breeds.
Longhorn Lore
Public Herds
Coming soon.
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Characters Captain Woodrow F. Call and Captain Augustus “Gus” McCrae – inspired by Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving
Bronze sculpture @ Capitol
Represents the Seven Families. The Longhorn representing the Phillips family contains the bones of the bull, Texas Ranger
More
More coming soon.