Texas Longhorn Bull

History

No cattle are native to North America. Every breed, from popular dairy cows like Holsteins to ubiquitous beef cattle like Black Angus, come from overseas, mostly from Europe. The same holds for Longhorns, but these cattle were the very first to step hoof in North America, arriving with Spanish explorers some 500 years ago. Many were set free or escaped, and the processes of adaptation and natural selection took hold, molding a breed that was hardy and adapted perfectly to its environment. Only the strong survived, which resulted in a breed that is resistant to disease, oblivious to temperature swings, and that has excellent birth and survival rates. These days, Longhorns are not only valued commodities among ranchers and farmers, but they are also treasure troves of genetic diversity, owing to their long period of separate from all other breeds of cattle.