Longhorn Management

Prior to 2002, the management of Texas Longhorn cattle on the Refuge was as intensively managed as any herd in the private sector. The reasons for this were two fold: (1) Initially, from a small foundation herd, it was necessary to predetermine mating selections to reduce the chance of inbreeding and to be able to determine lineage necessary for culling animals exhibiting influences of other breeds. (2) In 1965, the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America was formed and a decision was made to register Refuge longhorns to provide seed stock to the private sector, at a time when very few existed. Today, the problem is not the lack of animals, but the loss of the original true to type characteristics of longhorns. Fads come and go in the private sector and single trait selection to provide beefier animals or animals with large horns have all but eliminated the true to type cattle. Additionally, rather than one association, we now have three and register all our longhorns with each one. Meeting the rules and regulations that differ between each association requires a great deal of time and has the potential for and sometimes creates conflicts with Refuge longhorn management objectives and goals.

Longhorn cattle were placed on the Refuge in 1927 by an act of the 69^th Congress of the United States. The specific appropriation language and management guidance for the establishment and purpose for a herd of longhorn cattle is located on page 989, Sixty-ninth Congress, Session II, Chapter 39, 1927 as follows:… Provided that not to exceed $3,000 of the sum appropriated in this paragraph shall be expended for the purchase and maintenance of a herd of long horned or Spanish breed of cattle for the Wichita National Forest in Oklahoma to the end that the present comparatively few living examples of this historic breed of cattle may be preserved from complete extinction…

The Refuge Management Objectives for Longhorns are:

1. To manage a true to type and a genetically viable herd of these culturally and historically significant cattle for present and future generations to view, enjoy and appreciate.

2. To maintain longhorns under as natural conditions as is possible, with as little change as possible, without the undue influence of man to change or modify the breed. (i.e.: beef projection, lateral horn growth, colors, etc)

3. To support viable and beneficial scientific study of Texas longhorns within the constraints of Refuge goals and objectives.

The Refuge longhorn herd presently numbers approximately 280 animals. They have been rigorously visually culled for type and influence of other breeds for over 75 years. In 1991, the entire herd was blood typed for purity and any individuals showing impurities of other breeds were sold at auction. Only two animals tested positive for influence of other breeds of cattle. In addition to the 30 founding animals in 1927, 100 longhorns (46 bulls and 54 cows) have been brought into the herd to increase genetic diversity and maintain traditional type. At this point in time, the Refuge longhorn herd is as pure and true to original type as is humanly possible to achieve. For the first time since their arrival, we are now able to safely maintain the herd under as natural conditions as is possible without sacrificing diversity or type. The time finally arrived when the intensive management practices were removed and the longhorns were allowed to propagate naturally with as little human interference as is necessary to accomplish the mission and objectives of the Refuge.

This management was implemented in April 2002. The overall number of longhorns remains the same but the composition of the herd was changed. Rather than 36 bulls, 203 cows and 63 steers, the herd composition is now approximately 52 bulls and 226 cows. Steers did not appear in a natural herd as they are an influence of the hand of man. Longhorns are no longer registered with associations and are allowed to breed naturally.

The benefits of this management strategy are many. For the first time since the 1800’s, longhorn cattle can be managed under natural conditions, much like those under which they evolved, rather than an intensively managed ranch-like system. And for the first time ever, all longhorns will be able to freely roam the entire Refuge for the general public to enjoy, study and observe year-around.

The change in management strategies removes many of the reasons for problem politics between the Refuge, Associations, Registries and the buyers concerning type, horn shape, colors, best pedigree’s etc. It also assists with genetic management of the herd. In discussing the genetic implications with Dr. James Derr, Assistant Professor, Mammalian Molecular Genetics, Texas A&M University, his opinion was that it would require maintaining between 250 and 300 breeding animals. Of these, approximately 40 – 45 would need to be bulls.

Animals retained or sold are now branded with a WR on top of the left shoulder, with no private herd numbers. This meets requirements for inter- and intra-state shipments, yet still maintains a natural appearance. It is also much more acceptable from a humanitarian point of view.

From a physical management perspective, roundups are more efficiently conducted, as bulls will run with the cows, reducing the hazards in handling them by themselves. Also, only one annual roundup is required, rather than three. This significantly reduces the stress on the animals and decreases the stafftime required to administer the program from 16 man-months to 8 man-months per year.