by Sharon Niederman
N
othing says Old West like a Texas Longhorn. The horns of this tough breed can stretch up to ten feet end to end, symbolizing the pride and self-sufficiency of this formerly-wild cattle capable of thriving on the sparse forage of the wide open spaces. The sight of Longhorns evokes nostalgia for the days when the free, capable cowboy roamed the western plains before it was fenced. If John Wayne raised cattle, you may be sure he tended the iconic Longhorn. The Texas Longhorn became the foundation of the American cattle industry by claiming first rights in the untamed, newly discovered Americas more than 500 years ago. In 1690, the first herd of cattle was driven north from Mexico to land that would eventually become Texas. But the Longhorn breed is more than a picturesque reminder of the good old days, according to Dustin Brewer, president of the Texas Longhorn Breeders of New Mexico. The Stanley, NM breeder, who has
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FEBRUARY 2017
Photo taken by Candi Brewer
Longhorns on the Land