Archive for the ‘Breed Guidelines’ Category

Posted on April 13, 2009 - by Russell

Breed Guidelines - Necks and Shoulders

In this issue of Breed Guidelines we will be taking a look at the necks and shoulders of Longhorn cattle. The neck should be trim in cows and masculine in bulls. Very short or very long necks along with ewe neck is consider objectionable. The shoulders of a Longhorn should be free moving, smooth and well muscled. They should not have “open shoulders” which is where the shoulder blades stick up higher on each side of the backbone creating a sunk in area between the shoulder blades over the backbone. Shoulders and legs should form a V shape, this helps with calving ease. Square or blocky fronts should be avoided because of a possible negetive effect on calving ease of the resulting offspring.

Posted on March 30, 2009 - by Russell

Breed Guidelines - Back

In this issue of Breed Guidelines we will be reviewing the back or top-lines of Longhorn cattle. A desirable back or top-line should be strong with a slope upward from the shoulders to hook bones. The back should show some flex or dip as the animal walks. This helps the animal to be able to travel to water and greener grasses. An animal with an extreme swayback is considered objectionable.

 

 

Posted on March 19, 2009 - by Russell

Breed Guidelines - Conformation

In this issue of Breed Guidelines we are going to be looking at the general conformation of Texas Longhorn cattle. The general type or form should exhibit good length of body with moderate depth and thickness of body. The top of the hips should be higher than the top of the shoulders. The body should have an elliptical shape for heat adaptation. Bulls should be slightly thicker and heavier muscled than cows. Bulls should exhibit crest development on the neck, not over the shoulders. The bones of both cows and bulls should be sound and dense. The feet and legs should be strong with free movement, squarely set, sound feet and joints. The front legs and shoulders of both cows and bulls should form a V shape, not square or rectangular. This helps with calving ease. Very short legs, sickle hocks, post legged, mule-footed and weak hocks are all objectionable traits that should be avoided.

Posted on March 9, 2009 - by Russell

Breed Guidelines - Hooks and Rump

In this issue of our Breed Guidelines we will be talking about the rear-end structure of a Longhorn. The hooks (or hip bones) should be broad and reasonably prominent with a downward slop toward the pin bones. You want to avoid narrowness in the hooks and extreme levelness from hooks to pins as these will effect calving ease. The rump should be long with a slop from the hooks to pins. The Longhorn rump has a very different look than some of the other beef breeds. The Longhorn generally carries more lean meat with less fat on its rump. A big rounded rump is not normally characteristic of the Longhorn breed, that is not to say that there are not some bloodlines within the industry that are beefier than others. But even the rumps of these beefier Longhorns have a different look to them than that of beef cattle.

Posted on February 27, 2009 - by Russell

Breed Guidelines - Sheath and Navel

In this issue of Breed Guidelines we will be taking a look at the Sheath on bulls and the Navel on bulls and cows. The sheath of a Longhorn bull should have a small orifice and a retracted prepuce. The navel should be flat and small in size. You do not want to see a long pendulous sheath with a non-retractable prepuce. This could indicate the influence of another breed of cattle. You want to avoid excessive navel flap on both males and females. A small amount of navel skin is okay but you do not want to have hanging skin running from the navel to the brisket and dewlap and/or toward the udder and testicles. 

Posted on February 19, 2009 - by Russell

Breed Guidelines - Ears

In this edition of the Breed Guidelines we are going to study the ears of a Longhorn. We will be looking at size, shape and position of the ears. The ears should be medium to small in size and they should be round in shape. The ears should also be positioned fairly close to the horns or horn base. It is considered objectionable if the ears are long with a slight droop. Extremely large and droopy ears are considered an undesirable trait in a Longhorn. Photos left to right. Photo 1) Example of small ears, rounded on the ends and set close to the horns. Photo 2) Example of medium size ears, rounded on the ends but could be set a little closer to the horns. Photo 3)Example of a ear that is a little larger than it should be, it rounds on ends and doesn’t droop. Photo 4) Example of ears that are somewhat larger than they should be, not set very close to the horns  and they are pointing forward, these are not very desirable. Photo 5) Example of small ears, rounded on the ends and set close to the horns. Photo 6)Example of medium size ears, rounded on the ends but could be set a little closer to the horns. If you look closely at all these photos you will notice that there is hair hanging over the opening of the ears. This hair serves an important purpose, it keeps insects from being able to get inside the ears. 

 

Posted on February 12, 2009 - by Russell

Letter of Concern

Introduction: When I read this letter, which was written in 2003 by Dr. Joe Knowles, I thought it was worth sharing with our readers. This letter was written with the request that it be read to the 2003 TLBAA Board of Directors. However it was not read to the TLBAA Board, due to past management until the recent 2009 Board Meeting at which time a copy was given to each director and it was order that it be add to the minutes of the meeting as printed. After reading this letter in the TLBAA minutes I feel it may be even more relevant today, six years after it was originally drafted.

 

Dos Rios Ranch

HCR 60 Box 6, Springer, N.M. 87747

January 31, 2003

     After receiving a request from Doris and Charlie Snyder for input for future direction of the T.L.B.A.A. I have the following comments for your consideration.

     Dr. Stewart Fowler, at the time consultant to the T.L.B.A.A. and 25 years ago, stated that the Texas Longhorn was a “genetic goldmine”. He also stated that for any beef breed of cattle to be successful over an extended period of time it had to possess a unique trait or traits that would enable the commercial cowman to more efficiently produce beef. Dr Bonzma an internationally recognized breed development expert states that single trait selection for a desirable trait also produces an undesirable trait or traits.

     With the above basic breeding principles in mind, I suggest that the powers that be in the T.L.B.A.A. consider the following items in questioning the wisdom of the “tape measure philosophy” that the T.L.B.A.A. leadership and a lot of the membership have promoted for the last 25 years.

     Twenty five years ago, the Texas Longhorn (genetic goldmine) that nature had produced through basic environmental and survival of the fittest selection for 500 years, weighed around 800 to 850 pounds and had a horn of 3 feet plus or minus a few inches. The horn was curved and in a shape to be an effective weapon (a straight flat horn makes more inches on the tape measurement but is not an effective weapon as nature intended). She was fertile, had a calf unassisted probably at or before 24 months, had genetic disease resistance, conceived and did a good job of raising a calf up into the late teens and sometimes older. I have had several cows 23 years old that had just weaned a calf and had the dentition of a 10 year old Angus or Hereford cow. They were hustling well doing cows that could make it in unfavorable environmental conditions.

     Mans attempts at improving the traits of other breeds has been frequented by many a “wreck” and then attempts at correction of the “improvement”. Examples are; bigger is better, faster growth is better, taller is better, shorter is better, blockyer is better, bigger frame score, smaller frame score, back straight as a string ,low tail head ,not cut high in the flank. Selecting for these traits to improve the breed, especially single trait selection (Dr. Bonzma) has resulted in bigger birth weights (growth rate in part is determined by genetic trait at conception not at birth) hence you get dystopia. Selecting for more muscle in a female alters the estrogen -testosterone balance and effects fertility and milk production. About in the 50’s it became popular in the Herford breed to have big muscular cattle. This type won the shows and brought the highest price in the sales. The cows’ were sure big, muscular and pretty, but they would not give enough milk to raise a calf. The seed stock breeders concluded that the answer to this problem was to get nurse cows which a lot of them did. These nurse cow fed calves looked mighty good at weaning and when fed well brought premium prices when sold as bulls. Everything went well until the man who bought the bull saved some heifers out of him that had low fertility and poor milk production. Rapid growth and bigger frame scores and they produced post legged animals that had stifle problems, angkle problems, and poor locomotion. Shorter and blockyer selection resulted in “dwarfing out” both Angus and Herford. Selecting for backs as straight as a string and low tail won lots of shows and brought premium prices but resulted in flattened pelvises with resultant dystopia. Nature’s selection produced quadrupeds with sway backs and higher at the hips than at the withers. Deer, antelope ,elk, cheetah, longhorns are examples of this confirmation and they seem to get around pretty good and the “weak back” as man calls it doesn’t seem to be a problem. I didn’t say it was pretty or pleasing to my eye.

     Man in all his wisdom has “improved” the Texas Longhorn (there are other longhorn breeds) to where the cows have 5 or 6 feet horns (straight and lateral growth to increase tape measurement is better), some weigh 1200 lbs and have a bigger frame score. The bulls weight 2000 lbs or more and have a lot more muscle and frame score. This is man’s idea of the traits of a Texas Longhorn and a far cry from the balanced cow that nature evolved over a 500 year period. What has happened in just 25 years to the “genetic goldmine’ in changing these traits? Has following the “tape measure philosophy” altered the other unique traits of the Texas Longhorn? If you apply natures rules for rate of growth, longevity, fertility (Bonsma says the bigger the bovine the lower the fertility), characteristics of skeleton, muscle development hormone balance, you get a good estimation of what is occurring. A lot of mistakes made by the other breeds has been selecting for the extremes and then “improving “in the other direction. These mistakes by other breeds have been encouraged by the shows, sales and price premiums for the extremes. Fads and novelties don’t last too long. Remember chinchillas, emus, llamas, pot bellied pigs, miniature horses, etc.

     I think some of the questions that the powers that be in the T.L.B.A.A should be asking themselves and membership that are knowledgeable in breed development are; opinions on the above items, how many breeders of 20 year s ago are still breeders and still active in T.L.B.A.A. activities, what % of the breeders are making a profit,how many is it important that they do so, is 99%of promotion directed toward 1% of the cattle, how much of the change in traits was brought about by infusion of genes from other breeds, how much effort has been expended on maintaining purity (in constitution), what happened to the studies done by Texas A and M. on feeding Longhorns and what efforts have been made to use this information in promoting commercial cattlemen into using Longhorn genetics, Texas A and M. “s Ranch to Rail program says that a calf that has had all his immunizations is worth 16 cent more per lb due to his disease resistance, what is the genetic disease resistance in a Longhorn worth and has this information been transmitted to commercial cattleman, would more energy and resources directed toward commercial cattleman in using Longhorn genetics be beneficial to the 99% of the cattle and membership, how much space in the Trails is devoted to the “tape measure mode” and how much is devoted to those without cows with 5 foot horns and other problems in selling the other 99%.I realize that practically all your income comes from advertisers that have the 5 foot horn.

     In my opinion the long term success of the Texas Longhorn breed should be utilization of their unique traits as shaped by 500 years of natures selection and not of fads, extremes, and novelty.

     We almost lost the Texas Longhorn the early part of the last century. My hope is that we don’t lose to men’s folly in this century.

Joe Knowles

Posted on February 10, 2009 - by Russell

Breed Guidelines - Muzzles

In this installment of the Breed Guidelines we will be looking at the muzzle of Texas Longhorns. A desirable trait that you should look for around the mouth is what they call ”mealy mouth” which is a difference in the coloring around the nose and mouth. This helps with heat exchange of the animal and it’s surroundings. There should also be “pigmentation” around the eyes which helps keep them from being sunburned which would make them susceptible to getting cancer eye. It also helps fight against insects which spread diseases like pink eye. The lack of these traits would be consider objectionable. When we look at undesirable muzzle traits those would be a wry nose, overshot, undershot or crocked jaw. Photos left to right: Photo 1) Example of muzzle with mealy mouth and good pigment on nose and around the eyes. Photo 2) Example of good muzzle with the mealy mouth trait and good pigmentation around the eyes. Notice the light color of the hair around the eyes, like the mealy mouth. This was a summer photo and that lighter color helps with the heat. Also this photo shows the pigmentation of the skin around the eye.  Photo 3) Example of a wry or crocked nose and muzzle. Photo 4)Another example of mealy mouth, eye and nose pigmentation.You should be able to see some from of this pigmentation even on white or light colored cattle. Photo 5) Shows an animal with a lack of pigmentation around the eyes and on nose. Photo 6) This animal shows a lack pigmentation and is showing the effects of that with the irritation of the eyes which resulting in thewatering of the eyes. The watering of the eyes attracts insects to the eyes which can result in several health problems.  

Posted on February 1, 2009 - by Russell

Breed Guidelines - Tails & Tail Heads

In this edition of Breed Guidelines we will be looking a tails and the tail heads. The tail should be long and have a full switch. The tail head should be rounded (fish hook) not flat and there should be a bump just in front of the tail head. All this traits help with calving easy of the Longhorn by allowing the pelvic area to open up wider. A short tail and/or a flat tail head are questionable or objectionable traits. A wry tail (crocked tail) and a extremely flat tail head are both undesirable traits. An extremely flat tail head could indicate the influence of Brahman or Watusi blood. Photos left to right Photo 1) Example of a good long tail with full switch, okay tail head. Photo 2) Example of a good fish hook tail head, notice the bump in front of the tail head. Photo 3) Example of a questionable tail head - a little flat. Photo 4)Example of an extremely high tail head, you can see daylight at the curve of the tail even when the tail is not being lifted.  A high tail head falls in the same category as a slightly flat tail head - questionable. Photo 5)Example of an extremely flap undesirable tail head. Photo 6) Example of a broken-down tail head. In females this can be an indicator of non-breeding, because a cow has a heat every 20-21 days, if she is not bred. If she is being repeatedly mounted by other cattle every 21 days and is not being bred then the tail head can be broken when this occurs over extended periods of time. 

 

Posted on January 23, 2009 - by Russell

Breed Guidelines - Heads

In this edition of our Breed Guidelines we will be taking a look at the head shape of Longhorn cattle. The head should show masculinity and femininity according to the sex of the animal. The head should have moderate width with pronounced length from the poll to muzzle. The profile should be straight. There should be some evidence of throat flap. The nose should not be extremely “pinched-in” above the nostrils. The head should not be short or blocky. A convex forehead, roman nose and a pendulous dewlap are all objectionable. The poll should be fairly flat without a knot on the top or without a v shape. These objectionable traits can be indicators of the influence of other breeds of cattle. Photos left to right…Photo 1) Example of flat poll with long feminine face, ear could be set closer to horns. Photo 2) Example of flat poll, small ears set close to horns, long feminine face. Photo 3)Example of flat poll, small ears set close to horns, long masculine face. Not blocky. Photo 4) Example of V poll and eye set is undesirable, thick horn all the way out. This is not a Longhorn but a Watusi. These traits are not as pronounced in a Watusi cross or infuenced animal but are still visible. Photo 5) Example of a knot on the poll, a questionable trait. Photo 6)Example of flat poll, small ears set close to horns, long masculine face. Not blocky. Photo 7) Is this a male or female? Answer, it is a bully looking female.