Glacier County chief., 1940-01-19

in Oklahoma, Where las Live on
Federal Range.
Longhorn cattle, which once
roamed the ranges of the west
from the Gulf of Mexico to the
Canadian border. are now much
Scarcer than buffalo and there are
probably fewer than $50 of the
breed in the entire nation, accord
ing to Kenneth F. Roahen, federal
game agent, whose recent study OF
the breed was published by the bu-
reau of biological survey.
| The largest herd is now at the
Wichita mountains wildlife refuge, near
Cache, Okla, where about las Of these
picturesque animals roam the ranges
under the bureaus supervision. Eight
rara game preserve near Valentine,
Neb. and others are in private owner
ship.
Some hope for preserving the breed,
/ and gradually increasing 1t, is to be
found in the fact that the cattle at
Wichita descended from 80 Longhornss
brought to the area in 1927 when it
was administered by the forest service.
First Brought to U. S. in 1921
The saga of the Longhorn goes back
to 1921, when the first cattle were
brought to American shores by Greg.
gorio Villalobos, a governor general
sent to New Spain"
John Hatton, of the United States
forest service, and considered the out
horns, states that these Spanish calves
we're the progenitorS of the millions Of
Longhorns that spread from Vera Cruz
northerly over the coastal plains Of
Texas and the plains region Of the far
west. They became the pioneers Of our
western cattle industry"
After the Civil war these cattle were
still numerous. Then livestock breeders
began raising heavier. beefier cattle,
and by 1920 it became apparent that
only prompt action could save the
Texas Longhorn from extinction.
One Of the men who forcefully called
attention to the fact that the Long
horn was dying out and should be pre-
served was the late Will c. Barnes,
public official, author and one-time
cowman. Probably to him more than
| to any other one man should credit
be given for the preservation of the
Longhorn. The present Wichita herd is
! monument to Will Barnes efforts to
save remnant of this hardy breed.
Kendrick Aided Plan
Working for the forest service, Barnes
and Hatton, who is still active in the
| organization, began a long trek in July.
| 1927, in search of LonghornS. The trip
was financed by an appropriation from
congress, which was made at the behest
of the late Senator John B. Kendrick
of Wyoming.
Not until the quest began did live
stock breeders realize how close to ex-
tinction the Longhorn was. The two
foresters Travelled more than 5000 miles
and examined more than 10000 head
of Texas cattle before they collected
herd of suitable specimens OF the
Longhorn type.
Little by little, herd Of 20 COWS,
bulls. steers, and calves was col
lected and shipped to the Wichita ref
uge in August of 1927. From this nue.
leus of 80 the herd has increased to
LAG. Animals showing undesirable
characteristics have been weeded out,
and now there are 16 bulls, 63 cows,
and Ct steers of desirable type. To i'm
prove the herd and breed out foreign
characters typical Longhorn bulls were
purchased after much searching in
central Mexico on two occasions.
Longhorns may be described as leggy,
hardy, active animals with long, keen
horns and an aggressive disposition. In
color they range from black, brindle,
dun, spotted, buckskin. red, roam and
white to various combinations of these
colors. Coarse hairs about the forehead
and in the ears, and a fish-shaped
prominence Of the bone along the top
of the rump, just back of line across
the hip bones, are special character
isticS.
In size, Longhorns seemed to vary
with the locality. In Florida, 400 to
700 pounds was an average weight: in
er: while in Texas the animals weighed
from 500 to 1900 pounds. On the
Wichita refuge. however, the Long
horns weigh from 800 to 1000 pounds,
and two Of the Longhorn steers born
on the refuge II years ago now tip
the scales at 2.O45 and 2,035 pounds.
Suited to Arid Areas
Longhorns are well suited to the arid
conditions of the southwest. These
cattle will craze on rough hills where
domestic cattle will not go and will
travel greater distances tn water than
will the modern breeds.
Being susceptible to the dread Texas
fever tick. the strain began to disap-
pear when ranchers in the gulf coast
and lower Rio Grande regions began
crossing their Longhorns with Hindu,
CURED its place in the southwest
through its resistance to mosquitoes,
flies and the Texas fever tick.
LonghornS are not a scrub breed, as
many people think. Under favorable
conditions. these cattle will develop
William E. Drummond, an old-time
cowpuncher who has carefully bred the
Wichita herd for the last 70 years.
claims that Longhorns will butcher out
as much meat to the 100 pounds of
liveweight as domestic cattle.
Slow Of growth, Longhorn requires
two or three more years to attain ma
turity than do more desirable breeds.
1t keeps growing until 7 or years old
AS long as the animals grow, the horns
continue growing. On record are horns
with spreads of 6, and even 8 feet
from tip to tip.
Always Ready to Fight
Usually these cattle are surly, mean
and ready to fight on the Slightest