The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1940-03-22
Texas Longh orn
Not to Die Out
Herd Of 145 of Picturesque
Cattle Cared For in
Wildlife Refuge.

WASHINGTON. - At one time
nearly the whole plains country from
the Guh of Mexico to the Canadian
border belonged" to the longhorn.
Today, according to the bureau Of
biological survey, fewer than $50
real Texas longhorn cattle are in
existence.
The largest herd now is at the
Wichita Mountains wildlife refuge
near Cache, Okla, where about l45
or these picturesque animals roam
the ranges under the biological sur
Vey's protection. Eighteen longhorns
are on the Fort Niobara game pre-
serve near Valentine, Neb., and 9TH
ers are IN private ownership.
The cattle at the Wichita refuge
descend from 30 longhorns brought
to the area in 1927, when it was
administered by the forest service.
One member of that original herd
from the coastal plains of Texas
still lIves-"Old Red" a gaunt COW
more than 20 years old.
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, buck
skin, red, roam, and white to vari-
Gus combinations of these colors.
Special characteristics are coarse
hairs about the forehead and in the
ears, and fiSh-shaped prominence
OF the bone along the top of the rump
Just back of a line across the hip
bones.
Breed Slower to Develop.
Slow to growth, longhorn re-
quireS two or three more years to
attain maturity than do other breeds
OF cattle. AS long as the animal
grows, the horns continue growing.
On record are horns with spreads
of six, seven and even eight feet,
from tip to tip.
Saga of the longhorn goes back to
1921, when the first cattle were
brought to American shores by Gre
gorio Villalobes, a encouragement
sent to New Spain" John Hatton,
of the forest service and probably
the outstanding living authority on
longhorns, states that these Span
ish calves were the progenitorS of
the millions of leghornS that spread
from Vera Cruz northerly over the
coastal plains of Texas and the
plains region of the F ar West
They became the pioneers Of our
western cattle industry"
After the Civil war these cattle
were still numerous. Then live stock
breeders, however, began raising
heavier, beefier cattle. and by 1920
it became apparent that only prompt
action could save the Texas long
norm from extinction.
Attention was forcefully called to
this fact by the late Will c. Barnes,
public official, author and one-time
cowman, who made it evident that
the longhorn was dying out and
should be preserved.
Wide Survey Made.
Barnes and John Hutton began a
long trek back in July, 1927, in
search of longhorns when they we're
working with the forest service Not
until the quest got under way did
live stock breeders realize how close
to extinction the longhorn was. In
their efforts, the two foresterS trav-
eled more than 5000 miles and ex-
amined more than $4,000 head Of
Texas cattle before they collected 4
nerd of suitable specimens of the
longhorn type.
Little by little. herd of 20 COWS,
three bulls. three steers, and four
calves was collected and shipped to
the Wichita refuge. in August, 1927
From this nucleus of 80 the herd
has increased to 146.
LOnghornS are not a scrub breed,
as many people think Under IA
vorable conditions, these cattle will
develop into large. often fat animals.