Texas Longhorn Cow:

The Texas longhorn cow is a breed that can trace its ancestry to Spain; however, the breed is a significant part of the folklore and cultural constitution of the state of Texas.



The most unique feature of the Texas longhorn breed is its characteristic horns that can sometime measure seven feet across, though the average is set at around four feet across – still quite a fierce sight. The appearance of the Texas Longhorn is however not very deserved because it is a very docile creature.



It was originally part of the Wild West and cowboy traditions of Texas because it was one of the few creatures that could be commercially bred in hostile conditions.

Some Texas Longhorn cattle facts that are especially noteworthy are that this breed can survive in nearly every environment especially the hot and inhospitable deserts of Texas.



This breed can survive on very little water and can even survive on roots and cactus in the most food scarce condition. Not only this, but the animal is quite comfortable in this environment being adequately fertile through drought periods.  The animal is also quite disease resistant and Texas Longhorn calves are some of the strongest calves known to the bovine world. Some other Texas Longhorn facts include its near extinction as a species when grazing was not a problem in America. These animals are at a disadvantage from more commercially successful breeds because of the quality of their beef being leaner and raising these cattle can be commercially unviable because of the time that it takes for them to fatten up.

All these factors nearly drove most herds to the brink of oblivion but being such a potent symbol of Texan culture, some enthusiasts actually herded the last few bulls and cows to a refuge to successfully repopulate their numbers. From this point, the breed quickly recovered in numbers and is now being raised as well, curiously for their beef again. The reason for the sudden popularity is probably because of the quality of meat. Most beef contains a lot of cholesterol, a steroid alcohol that is used to produce hormones in all mammals. These are usually synthesized in the bodies of all mammals and excessive dietary intakes can cause the cholesterol to build up in the heart and cause atherosclerosis. Texas Longhorns have one of the lowest concentrations of cholesterol in their beef and if one really must indulge in beef, this lean variety is the healthier alternative.