The Texas Longhorn, a natural marvel traces its history from Texas to Mexico, to Spain and finally back to Africa. From Africa, his voyage began when he accompanied the Moors to Spain.

Soon these cattle were being put aboard ships. Space limitations allowed for a minimum of food and water, and as days at sea lengthened into weeks, the elements took a great toll on animals totally unaccustomed to the conditions. It is probable that the losses were extreme, and hardiness - a major trait of today's Texas Longhorn first began to function as a genetic trait.

Columbus landed cattle in Santa Domingo in 1493 on his second voyage to the New World, and 29 years later in 1521, Gregorio de Villalobos brought the first cattle from Santo Domingo to Mexico. Explorers, settlers and expeditions to establish missions brought cattle to Texas. The cattle propagated as they escaped, were scattered by Indians or abandoned when missions failed.

For the Longhorn, nature's crucible and its nursery was between the Rio Grande and the Nueces Rivers. He thrived in the new environment. By 1860, the census recorded 600,000 people and 4 million head of cattle in Texas.

Nature produces animals that all possess a single common denominator, environmental adaptability. Nature created a breed of cattle that had a body size commensurate with the availability of food, a breed of cattle that developed horns for protection, allowing the dominant males to propagate the breed.

Therefore, the Texas Longhorn was created, imported into Texas, defined and redefined by nature, tested by time, found not lacking and became directly responsible for the economic recovery of a state after the Civil War.

In a few short year, however, man began to "improve" on these naturally bred cattle. The Texas Longhorn was almost made extinct. In a span of about four generations, the Texas Longhorn traits began to decline into obscurity.

The Texas Longhorn was nearer extinction than the buffalo or the whooping crane, when in 1927, the federal government appropriated $3,000 for the requisition and preservation of a herd of Texas Longhorns.

By 1960, there were about 2,500 Texas Longhorns in the United States, and in 1964, the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America was created to preserve the cattle.

Then, the cattle industry began to appreciate the fact that a Texas Longhorn bull is probably the best of all breeds to use on a first-calf heifer. She can be bred at the youngest possible age, will carry to term and deliver a healthy calf.

The cattle industry has learned the value of the other genetic traits possessed by the Texas Longhorn and is utilizing them through the use of one-half Texas Longhorn range cows (F1).

The Texas Longhorn has become a symbol of survival and is now on the way again to becoming one of the world's most popular breeds of cattle through its genetic impact on the beef industry. The breed offers the ruggedness of the range, calving ease, and the abililty to provide a lean carcass of red meat that will grade high at the packing house.