Longhorn cows

[furbearer365]

I've wanted to get a couple (3-4) Longhorns for a while now and have been doing quite a bit of research trying to learn about them. From what I've read, they really seem like the perfect cow. Docile, Hardy, and all around fairly healthy. In fact, from what I've read, most breeders shy away from any shots because they are such a healthy breed. I'm just wanting them for pets, lawn art, and grazers to limit keep my hay fields down. Was just wondering if anyone here has experience with Longhorns and could have some dos and donts..

[KFhunter]

they take special handling considerations, if you want to eat them they're good, hides and horns have some value as well. 

The problem with them is they look good from the sides, but look at them from the front or back and they nearly disappear   

They're also fleet footed (fence jumpers)

the carcasses are narrow and doesn't hold a lot of beef compared to a beef breed that are wide, deep and heavy   


I'd recommend you get *very* docile ones that are hand reared and imprinted on people  ie: bottle baby's if you can find them, especially if you don't have the infrastructure to handle them.

There's other easier breeds to start with

[HUNTIN4SIX]

They don’t give them shots cause they are hard to handle in a standard chute.  In my opinion all cattle should be wormed and vaccinated.  You may have to get a special set up.  They don’t have the best carcass either.  More of a novelty breed. 
All boils down to what yer into.  Some people have a lot of Pomeranians

[KFhunter]

you can't run em in a standard chute or squeeze, they use heavy "gates" to pinch them and it's not a one man operation to use those gate style squeezes, nor are they as restrained as a good squeeze chute...and good luck doing preg checks 

vets are getting real sticky on preg check cages





I recommended a very docile tame herd that's imprinted on humans because you can do most things with a bucket of grain, right out in the pasture and if it's a bit more than that a strong lead rope and tree

[KFhunter]

They have their place, on scrub lands, eating cactus 

[Zardoz]

Very cool looking animals, but,..WOW..

[WapitiTalk1]

Very cool looking animals, but,..WOW..

Agree, they are awesome looking critters.

[AL WORRELLS KID]

furbearer365, Spotting your Herd out in the Field, will be a real head turner!

 https://www.blybooks.com/2021/10/longhorn-cattle/

[Alchase]

Oklahoma has wild long horns in the Wichita Mount game reserve in SW Oklahoma
.they can be quite intimidating when wild, lol

Pretty cool animals though.

[Igottanewknee]

They don’t give them shots cause they are hard to handle in a standard chute.  In my opinion all cattle should be wormed and vaccinated.  You may have to get a special set up.  They don’t have the best carcass either.  More of a novelty breed. 
All boils down to what yer into.  Some people have a lot of Pomeranians

Not much meat on a pomeranian though...

[PolarBear]

As someone who has been in the cattle industry for decades, I wouldn’t touch a longhorn with a 20’ pole. They are definitely not the breed to start off with. They get hung up in fences and equipment, are hell on trailers, are hard to handle, etc. If you have a lot of land and do not plan on handling  them or letting kids around them, go for it. Otherwise not a great choice and the beef is not great.

[nwwanderer]

Decent yard ornaments, as stated, tough to care for and slow to produce marginal beef.  Unless you are dead set on wide horns you might look at speckled park or angus lowline if you want something different.

[jackelope]

I’m going with these guys.

[Machias]

You might contact these folks.  They are in North Idaho and advertise on Craigslist quite often.

https://spokane.craigslist.org/grd/d/registered-texas-longhorn-cattle/7504455383.html

[Buckmark]

I would do a few highlanders, cool looking and are not bad to eat, take a bit longer than some breeds to be ready to butcher.
Might also look at Dexters, not real fancy looking but good temperment from my experience with them and eat well.