![]() It has been estimated that between 18, nearly 10 million cattle were driven north along the trails to market. This gave rise to another Texas breed-the Texas cowboy. The longhorn was an impressive animal, well adapted to its environment and requiring skilled individuals to gather, handle, and manage the herds to the shipping pens with minimal losses. They were often hunted for meat and hides, which likely strengthened their wild habit and instinct.Īfter the Civil War, many longhorns were rounded up and driven up various trails from Texas to Kansas City to be placed on rail cars and shipped east to slaughter. These early longhorns continued to roam Texas, almost completely wild and without the assistance of humans, until the end of the Civil War. Initially referred to as "Texas cattle" and later Texas longhorns, the animals reportedly populated a widespread area by the time Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836-from the Red River to the Rio Grande, east to the Louisiana line and west to the upper breaks of the Brazos River. ![]() These animals were considered game, much like deer and buffalo, but were regarded as very wild and more difficult to hunt. It is from these animals that the Texas longhorn began its colorful history.Īccounts from travelers crossing Texas in the early 1700s include stories of the presence of many wild cattle, often misidentified as native species. As settlements grew and more cattle arrived, the number of escaped cattle increased. Texas longhorns descended from cattle brought by Spanish explorers and settlers, and the first significant numbers of these animals likely arrived in the late 1600s. The dynamic history of the longhorn breed represents the state's equally captivating past. Since the 61st Texas Legislature officially recognized the State of Texas Longhorn Herd in 1969, it has managed to keep the cattle as historically correct as possible, and the selection of breeding animals has followed this ideal. ![]() This distinctive breed of cattle played a vital role in Texas' heritage, and the state maintains a herd of traditional longhorn, allowing residents and visitors to experience these graceful animals first-hand.įort Griffin State Historic Site near Albany was named the permanent home for the herd more than 60 years ago, and the Texas Historical Commission (THC) was recently brought into the fold with its acquisition of Fort Griffin and 17 other historic sites. The Texas Longhorn, one of the state's most iconic symbols, has been hoofing through Texas history for centuries.
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