Texas Longhorn Research Paper
Abstract
If any single animal could be said to represent of the state of Texas, that animal could only be the iconic Texas Longhorn. Saved from the brink of extinction, this hardy and resilient symbol of Texas, is a uniquely American breed of cattle, easily recognizable worldwide because of the prodigious horn length of the breed, used by the males to protect the herd. Left alone in the wild, the Texas Longhorn can live for twenty years or more, although if domesticated and raised for meat, that lifespan shortens to three to five years. Classified scientifically as Bos taurus, the Texas Longhorn, and all variants of Bos taurus, maintain a close evolutionary connection with Bos indicus, as the two species can breed and produce viable offspring. The Texas Longhorn produces a unique beef when compared and contrasted with other breeds of cattle. The Texas Longhorn is a survivor, and the American grasslands have provided it with an environment with which it has prospered, and will continue to prosper in the foreseeable future.
Species …show more content…
Rescued from extinction in 1927, the longhorn was initially protected by wildlife refuges in both Oklahoma and Nebraska (Fowler, 1996). It is a hardy, aggressive, and adaptable animal as well as a naturally occurring hybrid species (Fowler, 1996). Among all cattle, it is the most spectacularly colored species. (The Cattle Site, n.d.). The Texas Longhorns reaches its maximum weight in eight to ten years between 800 and 1500 pounds. (The Cattle Site, n.d.). A heifer, which is a female that has never given birth, reaches sexual maturity very young (The Cattle Site, n.d.). Longhorns have a longer than average longevity (Fowler, 1996). Their jaws are designed for circular grinding of rough vegetation (Encyclopedia of Life). The Texas Longhorn has a long life cycle in the wild that can go up to two decades
If any single animal could be said to represent of the state of Texas, that animal could only be the iconic Texas Longhorn. Saved from the brink of extinction, this hardy and resilient symbol of Texas, is a uniquely American breed of cattle, easily recognizable worldwide because of the prodigious horn length of the breed, used by the males to protect the herd. Left alone in the wild, the Texas Longhorn can live for twenty years or more, although if domesticated and raised for meat, that lifespan shortens to three to five years. Classified scientifically as Bos taurus, the Texas Longhorn, and all variants of Bos taurus, maintain a close evolutionary connection with Bos indicus, as the two species can breed and produce viable offspring. The Texas Longhorn produces a unique beef when compared and contrasted with other breeds of cattle. The Texas Longhorn is a survivor, and the American grasslands have provided it with an environment with which it has prospered, and will continue to prosper in the foreseeable future.
Species …show more content…
Rescued from extinction in 1927, the longhorn was initially protected by wildlife refuges in both Oklahoma and Nebraska (Fowler, 1996). It is a hardy, aggressive, and adaptable animal as well as a naturally occurring hybrid species (Fowler, 1996). Among all cattle, it is the most spectacularly colored species. (The Cattle Site, n.d.). The Texas Longhorns reaches its maximum weight in eight to ten years between 800 and 1500 pounds. (The Cattle Site, n.d.). A heifer, which is a female that has never given birth, reaches sexual maturity very young (The Cattle Site, n.d.). Longhorns have a longer than average longevity (Fowler, 1996). Their jaws are designed for circular grinding of rough vegetation (Encyclopedia of Life). The Texas Longhorn has a long life cycle in the wild that can go up to two decades