Changes to Longhorn Management

For years the management of Texas Longhorn cattle on the Refuge has been as intensively managed as any herd in the private sector. The reasons for this are 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 300 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 as finally arrived that the intensive management practices may be removed and the longhorns 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 will remain the same, however, the composition of the herd will be changed. Rather than 36 bulls, 203 cows and 63 steers, the herd composition will be approximately 40 bulls, 230 cows and 30 steers. Herds of bulls and cows have been established in Pinchot, Quanah and Mt. Scott pastures. A herd of 15 steers each will be kept in Quanah and Mt. Scott for the purpose of public viewing. The number of bison in each of the three pastures will be shifted to maintain the desired animal use. Longhorns will cease to be registered with all associations and registries and will be allowed to breed naturally. At this time, it is assumed that all registries will continue to allow the registration of WR longhorns, without pedigree information, for the purchasing public. Approval of such a plan has already been received from the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America.

Changes will be implemented over an approximate three year period as bison and longhorns can be rounded-up and shifted between pastures to fit this management scheme. Additionally, the shift in numbers between steers and cows needs to be accomplished in increments so as to not have too many animals within the same age class.

PRO’S:

1. 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.

2. For the first time ever, all classes of longhorns (bulls, cows, calves and steers) will be located in the Public Use Area of the Refuge year-around for the general public to enjoy, study and observe.

3. 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.

4. 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. Steers did not appear in a natural herd as they are an influence of the hand of man. They do, however, play a large part in the historical contributions of the longhorn. A small number of steers will be maintained in the Public Use Area for people to visualize the characteristic differences between bulls, cows and steers.

5. Animals retained or sold will be branded with a WR on top of the left shoulder, no private herd numbers will be branded. 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.

6. Bulls and steers will more easily be rounded up as they will be running with cows. Some of the associated hazards of handling bulls and steers will be reduced.

7. Only one roundup annually will be required, rather than three separate times as presently required.

8. This management scheme will reduce staff-time required to administer the program from 16 man-months to approximately 8 man-months per year.

9. Eleven of the interior pastures (2521 acres) presently utilized for separating breeding herds from April through August annually will now be allowed to grow during the spring and summer seasons. The gates will then be opened and the lush growth available would attract both buffalo and longhorns where they will be trapped, excess animals removed and sold at auction. Utilizing these pastures for this purpose will likely save ¼ to ½ of the moneys expended for helicopter roundup annually.

10. The knowledge and expertise required to manage longhorn cattle will be substantially reduced. Knowledge of individual animals will no longer be required. Staff training will be substantially reduced.

CONS:

1. Many longhorn buyers of WR cattle will be upset that the pedigree information on all animals will not trace back to their founders in the herd. To them, the value of the cattle is the pedigree.

2. The associations and registry may not want to register cattle without background pedigrees. This might be a problem to prospective breeders wishing to have registered WR cattle. It will not affect the Refuge’s ability to effectively meet our goals and objectives.

3. The monetary value received for auctioning the surplus animals could be less. However, it is believed that market price will be achieved fairly quickly.

4. There will be longhorns that cannot be rounded up on an annual basis, as is with the bison.

5. Approximately half of the yearling heifers retained for replacement will breed and calve as two-year olds. This is a natural even that occurred when longhorns were free ranging animals.

6. There will be calves born throughout the year. It is anticipated that most of the calves will be born in the spring sequence and that only a small number will be born out of time with the majority annually. The longhorns, when run naturally, may calve primarily during the spring season just as the buffalo do.

7. The overall number of steers will be reduced. The reduction will be from 63 down to 30 steers, 15 in each of the Mt. Scott and Quanah Pastures. In the first place, a steer is the product of the hand of man, however, steers were of great significance to the trail driving days that made the longhorn and cowboy famous. Thirty head will be maintained for public to view and observe the differences between cows, steers and bulls.

8. The potential for confrontations between longhorns and visitors may increase as there will be more animals in the Public Use Area. Numbers of bison will decrease, however, thereby balancing potential hazards.