CTLR Magazine Spring 2024

“The Texas Longhorn made more history than any Other breed of cattle the civilized world has known.”

J. Frank Dobie the author of the book, THE LONGHORNS

About the cover: Cattle relaxing on the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The Longhorn herd was established in 1927 to save the Texas Longhorn from extinction.

Page 1 – Welcome to CTLR online magazine

Page 2 - CTLR Mission Statement & Officers & Directors

Page 4-6 – Annual Membership Meeting

Page 7 – Poem “Cattle”

Page 8- WR Cattle

Page 9 – New DNA Test Update

Pages 10-11 Why Preserving the Heritage Texas Longhorns is Important Part 2

Pages 14-17 Wichita Wildlife Refuge: Start of the WR Herd

Page 17 Historic Photos

Pages 20-21 The Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge

Pages 22-23 Longhorn Anatomy

Pages 24-25 WR cattle photos

Page 30-31 CTLR DNA Testing

Page 34- Membership Requirements

The Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry is pleased to share our online magazine. The magazine will be published online quarterly.

The goals of this publication is to create a greater public awareness of the heritage genetics of the Texas Longhorn breed. It is also a way for CTLR to share information with our members, other Texas Longhorn breeders and the general public about the conservancy efforts of the CTLR. The association was founded on the principle of preserving, protecting and promoting the heritage genetics of the Texas Longhorn breed for future generations. These founding principles are why the association has requirements for registration in place that make them uniquely different from other breed registries. Unlike other registries the CTLR requires a DNA test and a visual inspection before the animal can be officially entered into the association herd books. These requirements are an important part of the CTLR’s efforts to maintain the integrity of the Herd Books of the registry to insure that the heritage genetics of the Texas Longhorn are preserved for future generations to enjoy and benefit from.

OUR MISSION : Conserve The Original Texas Longhorn

History shows us all ways the Texas Longhorns contribution to the Lone Star State. The breed’s unique adaptability provided the much-needed means of survival during Reconstruction through the post-Civil War era.

The key role Longhorn cattle played traveling the long trails North by the millions paved a way for Texas to become the economic leader it is today. It’s hard to imagine any other animal having made as large an impact on its state as has the iconic Texas Longhorn.

The Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry was formed by one simple goal: to conserve the “original” type of Texas Longhorn.

2023 Officers & Directors

James Farr - President

Debbie Adams - Vice President

Debbie Davis - Treasurer

Debby Farr - Secretary

Tim Aycock - Director

Will Cradduck - Past President

Markham Dossett - Director

Robert Lemmon - Director

Vivian Page - Director

Monroe Sullivan - Past President

Eric Woster - Director

Founding Members

In 1991 the Cattleman’s Texas Longhorn Registry (CTLR) was formed by a concerned group of individuals, several who's families had been instrumental in working to save the original iconic Texas Longhorn from extinction by establishing their own family herds of Texas Longhorns.

They believed that more needed to be done to preserve the valuable heritage genetics of the original Texas Longhorn. They felt like the other organizations were not doing enough to safeguard the genetics of the historic Texas Longhorn. So they formed CTLR to fill the gap.

They formed the CTLR with strict requirements for acceptance into their registry database. Which includes the use of scientific DNA testing as a tool to insure genotype, as well as visual inspections to insure phenotype. These steps were not & have not been taken by other breed organizations. Both of these requirements help to insure that the CTLR registered cattle are as close to the original heritage Texas Longhorn cattle as possible.

It is important to Preserve the Past to Protect the Future. Because of the work of the CTLR, the cattle they register still maintain a strong genetic linked to the heritage and profitable survival traits of their ancestors. Thus insuring that the CTLR Heritage Texas Longhorns continues to possess these important breed traits and characteristics which were so important to it’s survival as well as it’s value the cattlemen.

Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry Annual

Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry

Annual Membership Meeting

On May 4th 2024 the members and friends of the Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry gathered in Albany Texas at the Historic Fort Griffin State Park. The Park is home of the Official State Texas Longhorn herd.

Members gathered at the barn at camp grounds entrance near cattle pens for the Annual Membership Meeting and to fellowship with their fellow Heritage Texas Longhorn Breeders. The meeting was hosted by Will Cradduck, who is the manager of the Fort Griffin Herd and a CTLR board member.

The meeting was called to order and conducted by CTLR President James Farr. First up was a vote to elect directors for three positions. All three candidates were unanimously elected. There were several committee reports presented. Financially the origination is in good standing. The new website committee, new database committee and promotional committee all reported that they had made good progress towards achieving their objectives. The DNA committee reports was presented. The DNA committee was pleased to report that the new DNA Test that is being developed is very near compilation and could be ready for use by members who are registering cattle within the next 3 to 4 months. The new test will be able to provided more detailed information about the genetic make up of the cattle being tested. (See more details on page 9 in this issue) Guest were treated to a little history about Fort Griffin and the surrounding area.

Guest were treated to a lunch of home made Texas Longhorn chili, corn bread and all the fixin’s. After lunch everyone walked out to the pens to view the younger (weanling to two year olds) cattle of the Fort Griffin herd.

After viewing the younger cattle that were pen near the meeting area the guest divided into groups to tour Fort Griffin and the Longhorn herd.

Some of the group went to the visitors center area where some of the herd sires and senior trophy steers are maintained for the viewing pleasure of visitors to the Fort.

Others went the near by Historic Town site of Fort Griffin to see the original jail and historically accurate homes of the time period.

Another part of the group went with herd manager, Will Cradduck to view the remainder of the herd of approximately 175 head. These cattle are maintained about 18 miles from Fort Griffin. It was impressive to see the over all quality of the State Herd. It was interesting to be able to see and note the difference between these cattle that are still so closely linked to the Longhorn of the past and those of today’s modern mainstream Longhorns. The cattle at Fort Griffin still maintain the most important qualities of the Longhorn because they still live in a world where it is still survival of the fittest.

The official brand of the State Herd

Cattle

by Berta Hart Nance

Other states were carved or born, Texas grew from hide and horn.

Other states are long or wide, Texas is a shaggy hide,

Dripping blood and crumpled hair; Some fat giant flung it there,

Laid the head where valleys drain, Stretched its rump along the plain.

Other soil is full of stones, Texans plow up cattle-bones.

Herds are buried on the trail, Underneath the powdered shale;

Herds that stiffened like the snow, Where the icy northers go.

Other states have built their halls, Humming tunes along the walls.

Texans watched the mortar stirred, While they kept the lowing herd. Stamped on Texan wall and roof Gleams the sharp and crescent hoof.

High above the hum and stir

Jingle bridle-rein and spur.

Other states were made or born, Texas grew from hide and horn.

The Cattle

(Wichita Wildlife Refuge)

The WR cattle are considered one of the original Seven Families of Longhorn cattle. The other Seven Families of Texas Longhorns where named after the families that, who on their own worked to save the Texas Longhorn. Those Families or Bloodlines are Yates, Marks, Peeler, Wright, Butler and Phillips. The WR much like the other original herds is a result of selective breeding in a mostly closed herd. The WR herd began with the acquisition of breeding stock in 1927 and maintaining a selective breeding program focused on maintaining the true qualities and traits of the original Texas Longhorn.

In 1927, the Wichita Refuge searched for Longhorn cattle to preserve from extinction. Refuge employees viewed thousands of cattle and finally located and acquired 20 cows and three bulls which were of the Longhorn type.

In 1931, a card file recording brand, age, color description, pedigree and cow's production record was begun on each Longhorn at the refuge. (This practice was discontinued, no pedigrees are tracked. Today cattle are registered as unknown WR Longhorn.) Several bulls and cows were added to the original herd through the years, adding various true Texas Longhorn traits to the gene pool.

The success in the management of the herd and the resulting WR family of Longhorn cattle is credited to four refuge employees-Earl Drummond Claude "Heck" Schrader, Joe Bill Lee and Elmer Parker, Jr. Their interest in the old-type Longhorn, and the infusion of bloodlines from Mexican bulls and cows, have brought about the WR type - believed by many to typify the old-time Texas Longhorn. The surplus cattle are sold off each year in an annual sale.

WR 26 was sold as a 2yr old

a record $40,000 in the 1980’s

WR 2935 was sold at age of 17yrs in the WR Sale

a record $26,000 in the 1980’s

Improved test is a valuable Tool to CTLR’s Efforts

https://equinegenomics.uky.edu/data_warehouse/species/Bos _taurus/Invictus_CTLR_2024_05_04.mp4

Above is a link to a PowerPoint video created by Ted Kalbfleisch, our Geneticist that created the new analysis we will soon move to using to determine eligibility for registration. Copy and paste the link into your browser. The video is around 30 minutes long and includes small graphics that require a computer monitor it see and understand. Ted was kind to create this explanation, so everyone understands what results to expect. This analysis can be used to qualify an animal as a conservation or Heritage Texas Longhorn, verify parentage, and aid in pairing selections for potential matings for the most diversity in offspring.

The fee will be $75 per animal. We will continue to use Neogen for the genotype mapping. Instead of paying Neogen, this test will be ordered through the Invictus Informatics website (still under construction). We will pay $75 through the website when we order a test. Invictus will mail the number of hair cards requested. Hair samples will then be mailed to Neogen with the Invictus submission form. Neogen will report the genotype data to Invictus. Invictus will run their analysis and report results to both the owner and the CTLR. Any tissue may be submitted for this test; hair, plug from the ear, blood tube, semen straw or beef sample.

If you would like to test one of your animals now with this new analysis, you may request a hair card from the CTLR and pay for the test by mailing a check to Invictus. We cannot tell you how long it will take to get results because the reporting system is still being worked out. In the mean time until the Invictus website is complete, we still accept the old DNA test using the form you can download from the CTLR.org website.

We will continue to accept SeekSire results from Neogen if the only information needed is to qualify a sire of a subsequent female from a multi-sire herd. That test is $19.

Why Preserving the Heritage Texas Longhorn is Important

Part 2 Production & Efficiency

In this second installment of "Why It Is Important To Preserve the Heritage Texas Longhorn" we are going to take a look at some of the qualities that the true Texas Longhorn has to offer today's cattlemen. Heritage Texas Longhorns are more than just history makers of the past. They are a "genetic gold mine" for today's cattlemen to use to increase profits, production and sustainability. Heritage Texas Longhorns need to be preserved for more than just their importance in history. Unlike some of today's mainstream Texas Longhorns the Heritage Texas Longhorn maintains a very close genetic link to the original Texas Longhorn that roamed free across Texas. These genetic qualities that helped the Longhorn survive in the wild decades ago can still be found in the Heritage Texas Longhorns that are registered in the Cattlemen's Texas Longhorn Association. These historic genetics are protected and preserved by the CTLR by the way of DNA testing and visual inspections before being accepted into the associations Herd Books.

These types of Texas Longhorns are productive and functional in several ways that surpass that of today's modern Texas Longhorns and even that of some other breeds of cattle. In this installment we are going to take a look at the Heritage Texas Longhorn females abilities to be productive for both seed stock and commercial producers.

In today's cattle industry production efficiency is a must when it comes to being profitable. The commercial cattle industry is seeing a change in the size and frame that is preferred in a good brood cow. Ranchers are starting to shy away from the extremely large brood cows, which have in most case proven to be less efficient than the more moderate sized cattle. The larger cattle tend to require more forage which means more acreage is required. Ranchers have also seen higher input cost for the larger cattle and in a lot of cases the calves weaned do not even reach 50 percent of the cows weight at weaning.

Longevity & Production

Right; Is a great example of production & efficiency. This cow is raising an F1 Red Angus calf that is well over 50% of the cows weight

Cattle need to be able to adapt to their environment and be productive in that environment. The Heritage Texas Longhorn has this adaptability which can be lacking in a lot of today's cattle. The Heritage Texas Longhorn female is well equipped to handle any environmental extreme that Mother Nature throws at her. These Longhorns will thieve in the hot and humid Southern regions, as well as the cold regions of the North or the dry aired deserted lands.

The true Longhorn female will almost always wean a healthy calf each and every year, well into her teenage years. Their ease of calving is an important part of their long term production ability. These added years of production means more calves weaned and less need for keeping or buying replacement females for the herd. Most other beef breeds are culled from the herd at the national average age of 8yrs. This is usually due to non-breeding or bad udders. This also means that more than likely she only contributed 5 to 6 calves to the ranchers profit margin.

Longhorn females are quick to breed back, even under the harshest of conditions. Most other breeds do not have this ability and can miss having a calf or go longer between calves. The lack of production is costly for the rancher and can mean the difference between the rancher being profitable or going under with less calves to take to market. Most Longhorn cows will calve every year like clockwork. Some, if given the opportunity will calve every 10 months because they breed back 25 to 30 days after calving.

As a general observation you will find that most Heritage Texas Longhorn females will wean a calf that weighs 50 to 60 percent of her body weight. This will increase when these females are used in an F1 cross breeding program. Yes, typically a Longhorn will weigh less (800-1,000lbs) than some of the other breeds (weighing 1,400lbs plus) but their efficiency makes a profitable difference. Ranchers can run more head per acre of Heritage Texas Longhorns which results in more pounds produced per acre. The maintenance and upkeep of Longhorn cattle is also less thus resulting in less input cost per pound produced.

All these factors work together to help the rancher increase their bottom-line. In today's cattle industry cost of production is a major concern for most all ranchers, whether a large or small scale operation. The Heritage Texas Longhorn can be a major asset to a ranchers bottom dollar.

Left: This is a great example of longevity, production & efficiency. This cow is in her early 20’s and just weaned a bull calf that was 50% of her body weight.

Production & Efficiency

Photo: David Karger

Fort Griffin Historical Site Home of THE OFFICIAL TEXAS LONGHORN HERD

1701 N. U.S. Hwy. 283, Albany, TX 76430 325-762-3592 visitfortgriffin.com

The official state Longhorn herd is co-managed by the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The herd is based at Fort Griffin State Historic Site, although portions of the state herd also reside at Copper Breaks, San Angelo, Palo Duro Canyon, and LBJ state parks.

Coppers Breaks State Park

777 Park Road 62 Quanah, TX 79252-7679

https://tpwd.texas.gov/stateparks/copper-breaks

Lyndon B. Johnson State Park

199 Park Road 52 Stonewall, TX 78671

https://tpwd.texas.gov/stateparks/lyndon-b-johnson

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

11450 Park Road 5 Canyon, TX 79015

https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/paloduro-canyon

San Angelo State Park

362 S. FM 2288

San Angelo, TX 76901

https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/sanangelo

These cattle continue to represent the unique and once-abundant animals that made a critical contribution to the development of Texas’ economy in the 19th century.

Dedicated to scientific and historical research and education associated with heritage Texas Longhorn cattle, we recognize the value of this national treasure in its original phenotype (appearance) and genotype (genetics). We provide ongoing resources toward research and education pertaining to the conservation of this naturally evolved, historic breed. We work closely with the Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry to insure the preservation of the heritage genetics of the breed.

Our mission is to safeguard the integrity of the old-time, traditional Texas Longhorn for future generations by educating the public about the value of conserving this naturally evolved breed of cattle and providing resources for continued research into understanding their unique, genetic traits.

Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Conservancy is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (EIN 05-0618099) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Help Support our efforts by making a Donation.

The Saving of a Breed. The Founding of the WR Texas Longhorn Herd

Note From The Author: Much has been written, in a general way, about how the Texas Longhorn was saved from extinction by the United States Government. However, even J. Frank Dobie, in his book The Longhorns, does not provide specific details as to how the project was conceived. funded and carried to completion The following article from The San Antonio Light, dated August 7, 1927, reprinted with permission provides, to my knowledge, the most authentic account of the project.

The Longhorn is saved. Although he doesn't look in the least like a carrier pigeon, he was just about to go the same way that great bird went. Twenty-nine Longhorn cattle have been secured in south Texas and are on their way to the Wichita forest reserve, located 17 miles out from Lawton, Oklahoma, in the Wichita Mountains.

Give thanks to Will C. Barnes of the forest service for this great accomplishment. Not that the Longhorn is such a fine critter in these days of Herefords, Shorthorns, Black Angus and all the rest, but in his day and time the old Longhorn made his mark. He played a leading role in the most colorful of all our national development movements.

Barnes spent Friday in San Antonio, leaving early Saturday for Austin, where he held a conference with Professor J. Frank Dobie of the University of Texas. While here, he was bubbling over with happiness at the success of his month's search in Texas for specimens of the old-time cattle.

He and his assistant, John H Hatton, actually looked over 50,000 cattle in their search, says Barnes. They followed many a false clue, too. Coming into south Texas, via the gateway, San Antonio, they went to Laredo, thence to Brownsville, and then along the coast to Beaumont and they tarried and criss-crossed the country as they went.

Notwithstanding that Barnes was a practical cattleman for 26 years in New Mexico and Arizona, he had one of his most exciting moments of cattledom on Bob Sutton's ranch near Cotulla. On that ranch Bob keeps a 15-year-old outlaw steer which bears the euphonious name of "Pizen Weed," and old Pizen Weed puts Barnes on a fence.

More, Barnes lost his Panama hat as he ran for safety, and old Pizen Weed trampled it and gored it beautifully, finally getting it stuck on his horn where he wore it some little while. Barnes was wearing the hat as he left San Antonio

"Honestly,' said the beleaguered representative of the forest service "a good movie film of my flight and that wild outlaw charging around the Sutton corral with my Panama on his horn would have furnished a large laugh for any audience Think, there must have been $1,000,000 worth of film actually lost.

Seventeen of the Longhorns were gathered together in the Edinburg country, where Walter Doughty was good enough to allow himself to be drafted. These went on to Fort Worth about four days ago.

Twelve of them were bought up in Liberty county and will be shipped from Devers Sunday. Seth Brown helped Barnes out there. Both bunches of them will be assembled in Fort Worth - assembled is a good enough word for it - and after a final inspection and dipping for ticks, will go on to the reserve.

These cattle have been bought in small bunches, here and there where they could be found. No one man had enough of them, said Barnes. All were bought, paid for and a bill of sale taken. Most of them were from small owners to whom the price was of interest.

The assembled herd will comprise 20 cows, three bulls, three steers and one bull yearling. "The bulls are a hard lot," said Mr. Barnes, explaining that they were extremely aged, and a bit off in flesh and general beauty. "One crop of calves from them and we will be safe,‘ said Barnes.

WR Cattle of the Past - 1980’s

Out of this thing of gathering up the Longhorn remnants comes attention to a fact that has set scientists taking notes. The steers have the longest horns by far. A gang of them - scientists - are coming down to the reserve to make observations of this. And Barnes says they will get an eye full.

All the colors that distinguished the Longhorn of old are preserved in this shipment. There are yellows, duns, creams, brindles, browns, red - all of them. Oh, yes, and some of them "pided." Old "Pied," the cow of yesteryears, was not much on milk but no doubt "done her derndest."

Often when Mr. Barnes went to look over a bovine that was reputed to be Longhorn, he found, owing to his trained eye, that the trail of the Brahma, the Durham or later importation was over them. Only a man who has made an intense study, and also knew the Longhorn in his prime, as did Mr. Barnes might have detected that.

The progenitors of these cattle were imported from Spain to America in 1522, according to researches made by Barnes.

John B. Kendrick, once a Texas cowboy, now U.S. senator from Wyoming, is due thanks for saving the Longhorn, modestly asserts Barnes notwithstanding that for many years Barnes has been working on the project.

Kendrick, influential senator, is the man who persuaded Congress to appropriate the money that turned the trick, after repeated failures by Barnes, singlehanded.

Kendrick worked out of old Round Rock, Williamson County, as a cow-boy and went up the trail to Wyoming. He liked it and stayed there. He went into the cattle business and became president of the Wyoming Cattle Raisers association. Then he became governor.

This beautiful cow can been seen at the WR today

Today’s WR Cattle

Next he became president of the American National Livestock association, succeeding Col. Ike T. Pryor of San Antonio. Next he was elected U.S. Senator.

While Kendrick was governor of Wyoming, he gave a banquet in the executive mansion at Cheyenne in honor of Col. Pryor, at which time there were present a lot of fellows who had driven cattle for the colonel in years gone by.

"John B. Kendrick is the man who got the money out of Congress for saving the Longhorn, and I hope it is not forgotten,' Barnes emphasizes.

About the Author: Gene Bartnicki was employed as Wildlife Biologist at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuse, Cache, Oklahoma from June 1969 to August 1979. His primary duty was the management of the Texas Longhorn, buffalo and elk herds. Gene would later become ranch manager for Spring Lakes Ranch, Aquila, Texas. He was in charge of a quality herd of Texas Longhorns primarily of WR bloodlines. This article appeared in the December 1984 issue of "The Texas Longhorn Scene" magazine.

This 1927 photo (upper left) was taken on the road' during the search for representative Longhorns in south Texas. Man sitting on corral is more than likely either U.S. Forest Service employee John Hatton or Will Barnes. It was noted that the animal in this picture showed signs of other blood besides Longhorn, and was rejected.

The cow in this photo (lower left) was one of the original 30 head found in Mexico in 1927. She was branded on both sides by previous Mexican owners. This cow was estimated to have had a least 18 calves during her life of 19 or 20 years. She was, because of her progeny, a definite contributor to the original foundation herd. It is known that several cows bought in 1927 were old and not of the best Texas Longhorn type and were watched carefully as far as their offspring were concerned. From available records, this cow was not one of those. She offered a lot to the growing WR herd. After this cow died in 1933 her horns and part of the skull were presented to the Chief of the Division of Range and Wildlife Management in Denver. Will Barnes, ex-U.S. Army scout in the Apache campaigns and longtime cattleman was one of the team that rounded up that first representative herd for the Refuge.

This beautiful cow can been seen at the WR today

1927 THE BEGINNING

Recognizing the near extinction of the original Texas Longhorn, the Federal Government allotted $3,000 and two U.S. Forest Service rangers, John H. Hatton and Will C. Barnes to gather up the best specimens they could find. Riding over five thousand miles, and viewing some 30 thousand specimens, these men gathered up twenty cows, three bulls, four calves and delivered them to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Cache, OK.

1941

“YOU COLLECT THEM, I’LL PAY”

Those were the words spoken by Texas Financier Sid Richardson to his friends, author J. Frank Dobie and rancher/TSCRA Inspector Graves Peeler. Feeling not enough was being done to conserve the original Texas Longhorn, Richardson engaged the two men to gather more original Texas Longhorns for various State parks so Texans and other visitors could see and appreciate these magnificent animals on whose backs this State and Nation were built.

1948

These State herds were consolidated and moved to Ft. Griffin located in Albany, Texas, becoming the Official State of Texas, Texas Longhorn herd

1969

The 61st Texas legislature officially recognized the State herd

1991

ESTABLISHED

1995

TEXAS STATE LARGE MAMMAL

A statewide mock election by the school children of Texas named the original Texas Longhorn the State Large Mammal

2020

25TH ANNIVERSARY

State Senate proclamation #173 recognized the 25th anniversary of the original TXL being named the State Large Mammal as well as the conservation efforts of the CTLR

Cattle in the pens at Wichita Wildlife Refuge

In Comanche County in southwestern Oklahoma, the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma's largest wildlife refuge, contains more than 59,000 acres. In 1901, prior to the KiowaComanche-Apache Opening, Pres. William McKinley proclaimed a portion of the mountains as the Wichita Forest Reserve, assigned to the Forestry Division of the General Land Office of the U.S. Department of the Interior. In 1905 the reserve was transferred to the Bureau of Forestry under the U.S.

Department of Agriculture. Later that year, after Congress passed a bill authorizing a federal wildlife refuge, Pres. Theodore Roosevelt issued a proclamation creating the Wichita Forest and Game Preserve as the nation's first big-game animal (and other native wildlife) refuge. Earlier, Roosevelt had established several national bird sanctuaries. In 1906 Roosevelt issued a second proclamation, adding 3,680 acres to the refuge. In 1907 the park became the Wichita National Forest and Game Preserve when all forest reserves were reclassified as National Forests. In 1936 Congress renamed the area the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge and transferred it to the Bureau of Biological Survey. In 1939 federal refuges moved back to Department of Interior control. In 1940 the Biological Survey and the Bureau of Fisheries combined to become the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which continued to administer the Wichita refuge into the twenty-first century.

The establishment of a national preserve in southwestern Oklahoma culminated a regional movement to protect the shrinking bison population and to gain a national park for the imminent state. The Oklahoma City Commercial Club, one of the early and more influential groups, campaigned locally and nationally for the park. In 1905 the New York Zoological Park (later the Bronx Zoo) offered the federal government fifteen buffalo (American bison) to begin a herd for the refuge, if it agreed to fence the range. In 1907, after an eventful and delayed train trek across the country, the animals arrived to great fanfare. An American Indian contingent led by Quanah Parker greeted the newly arrived bison, and many of the elderly Comanche emotionally related stories of their experiences with the wild animals prior to their near extermination. Later the preserve successfully relocated elk, wild turkey, and a herd of Texas longhorn cattle to its prairie environment. The 1927 addition of longhorns to the "wildlife" refuge was made for their historical and cultural importance. More unsuccessful programs involved the addition of the American pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, and the prairie chicken. Native deer also flourish on parkland. Other mammals that can be seen at the refuge include prairie dogs, raccoons, bobcats, coyotes, and rabbits. The number of lakes and water features attract migratory birds, and eagles sometimes can be seen in the fall and winter. Annual auctions for the buffalo and longhorns help keep the herds at a set number, while controlled hunts of elk and deer check their populations.

Entrance to Wichita National Forest and Game Preserve near Medicine Park

The physical environment includes mixed prairie grasslands, with buffalo and grama short-grasses and bluestems, Indian grass, and switch-grass tallgrasses. Several mountains and rock features appear within the refuge, with Mount Scott as the highest point (2,464 feet above sea level), followed by Mount Pinchot (2,461 feet). There are numerous artificial lakes. The first, Lost Lake, was completed in 1926. Most were created during the 1930s under the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) or the Works Progress Administration (WPA). WPA workers also constructed the Holy City of the Wichitas, where an annual Easter pageant is performed. In 1938 a road to Mount Scott's peak officially opened. It was a joint project of the Public Works Administration, a private firm, and the WPA. The refuge is divided into a public use area and a special use area. The park also has two wilderness areas, the North Mountain Unit, with limited access, and the Charon's Garden unit, which allows photography, hiking, and camping.

By the twenty-first century more than one million visitors traveled to the park each year. Hiking trails include Dog Run Hollow, Elk Mountain Trail, Little Baldy Mountain Trail, and the Environmental Education Trail. Rock climbing and rappelling are popular activities. Also available is fishing, picnicking, and camping. There are periodic guided public tours of different aspects relating to the national preserve. The many roads allow excellent opportunity to view and photograph wildlife. In 1997 the refuge's visitor center opened, offering exhibits, artwork, and taxidermy, as well as a 112-seat auditorium.

Article written by Larry O’Dell and from the Oklahoma Historical Society Website

Bison in the Wichitas near Mountain Park (12644, Earl E. Nichols Collection, OHS).

Mount Scott is the highest point in the refuge (23389.344.114, Jim Argo Collection, OHS).

Charon's Garden, Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, 2002

Longhorns, living breathing works of Art.

Photos from WR

We started raising heritage Texas Longhorns in 2021. Our daughters have shown our cattle at local, county, and regional livestock shows in Oklahoma. We have now grown the herd to 50 head of CTLR registered breeding stock.

In the coming months CTLR will be launching our new online store, Longhorn Mercantile. The online store will offer a wide verity of items with a Historic Texas Longhorn theme. These items will be of interest not only to our members but also to any one with an appreciation for the Heritage Texas Longhorn Breed.

The new online store is a great way for any Longhorn enthusiast to show their support for CTLR’s conservancy efforts. Profits from the sell of the online merchandise will be used to advance these efforts. The proceeds will also be used to create a greater awareness of the importance of the Heritage Texas Longhorn and the work of the Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry. Help us tell the Longhorn story with your purchasing of Longhorn merchandise offered at our new online store. Announcement of Grand Opening coming soon.

“The conservation Texas Longhorn is declared Critically Endangered by The Livestock Loss is due to dilution of genetic integrity resulting from crossing with other breeds for increased horn size. We embrace the opinion that a creature created by God through natural selection requires no improvement.”

A valuable Tool to CTLR’s Efforts

The CTLR uses DNA analysis as a powerful tool to guide the conservation of the original Texas Longhorn breed. DNA results help guide breeders as they select animals that contribute to the future of the breed and prevent its extinction. Early in the development of the DNA profile of the conservation Texas Longhorn the results helped guide and validate the important steps of evaluations based on herd history and visual appraisal.

By late 2019 the CTLR had assembled over six hundred genotypes from conservation Texas Longhorns using Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). Individual animals can be analyzed by placing their results along a linear scale that compares them to other breeds and distinguishes breed influences by a percentage of influence from the various breeds and branches of cattle origins (zebu, Iberian, Northern European, and African). The CTLR also used a separate mitochondrial DNA analysis that tracked influences that come from the maternal side, and a similar separate analysis of the Y chromosome of males that tracks the paternal side. These two can both trackany introgression from influences foreign to the traditional breed.

These analyses were then combined to derive a proportion of an individual animal’s genetic makeup that comes from the different bovine breed origins. The percentage that falls within the conservation Texas Longhorn can then be used to drive breeding and conservation decisions. In addition to helping assign animals into the traditional Texas Longhorn conservation breeding group, the results also validate the parentage of the animal by matching it to its sire and dam. This assures that pedigrees are accurate, which is essential for managing the breeding of a rare breed. In most breeds the error rate in breeder-assigned sires is about 15%. DNA validation removes this source of errors and guarantees that all animals have accurate pedigrees and can contribute to meaningful conservation breeding programs. The Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry currently accepts DNA results from one lab. The test can be used to determine registration eligibility of animals from known parentage and in addition to visual inspection qualify animals from unknown history. Neogen/GeneSeek reports a 100K SNP map that is interpreted by our software analysis. The results assign an indicine percentage to each individual. Explanation of the origin of indicine percentage is in the research article New World cattle show ancestry from multiple independent domestication events.

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1303367110

Up until 2023, The University of California-Davis performed an analysis of microsatellites that could identify in males, percentages of introgression of 17 breeds; 13 common Taurine

A valuable Tool to CTLR’s Efforts

English/Continental breeds and 4 Indicine; African Sanga/Middle East /India Zebu breeds. The UC Davis report for both males and females include the percentage of genetics grouping with conservation Texas Longhorn cattle and/or the percentage an animal groups with hybridized horned cattle. Y-chromosomes haplotypes in males are associated with specific regions (Y1 northern Europe and British Islands, Y2 Iberian Peninsula and Southern Continent, Y3 Zebu (all humped cattle), and reveal percentage of introgression of any of the 17 breeds on file. Bos taurus(includes all European cattle) or Bos indicus (includes all Zebu or Indian cattle), mtDNA lineages are classified according to major Bos taurusfamilies (haplogroups T1, T1a, AA (or T1c), T2, T3, Q) and Bos indicus families (I1, I2). Results to expect for conservation Texas Longhorn cattle are rankings of 80% or greater with conservation control group. Less than 1% of Hereford, Shorthorn, Angus, British White, and Zebu are not uncommon in conservation Texas Longhorn cattle. Low percentages reflect historic introgression from the 1800s and early 1900s. Animals possessing markers found only in Iberian breeds with 0% introgression of other referenced breeds do exist. In combination with 90+% conservation genetics, these animals are considered elite. Many conservation Texas Longhorn bulls possess a Yhaplotype indicating historic admixture of Hereford, Shorthorn or Angus due to the introduction of those breeds in 1885 to west Texas. Read an article from 1920 in The American Hereford Journal.

https://www.ctlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Herefords-inWestTexas.pdf

Cattlegathered along coastal regions possessed historic admixture of Nelore and Gyr; Zebu breeds that were imported to the US in the 1885 to become the foundation of the American Brahman breed. We must accept less than 1% admixture from other breeds as part of the evolution of the Texas Longhorn breed. We do not consider introgression from other breeds introduced in the last sixty years to be naturalevolution. Animals possessing greater than 1% of other detectable breeds are excluded from conservation status.We have learned by experimentation offspring can be ‘bred up” from parents possessing unacceptable genotypes, when one grandparent possessed conservation genetics, the calf has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the conservation alleles or the hybrid alleles. For this reason, we include eight bulls that fall below our minimum acceptable range of 80% conservation score. These are available for experimentation in effort to increase diversity but are not guaranteed to produce an offspring that will be acceptable for CTLRregistration.

dwdlonghorns.com

David Holmgren Deep Well, Nevada (775) 455-5671

James & Debby Farr

Terrell, Texas (214) 202-8141 farrcrosslonghorns.com

Running M Longhorns

Giles & Becky Madray Ozona, Texas (325) 392-5801

Monroe & Debbie Sullivan Midland, Texas (432) 210-9391 sullivanlonghorns@gmail.com

Ron & Janet Fowler

Wayne, OK (309) 333-5693

DCS Livestock

Gil & Judy Dean Bastrop, Texas (512) 940-1676 gilbertodean@gmail.com

Ted, Todd & Tim Aycock 13012 Seaman Rd. Van Cleave, MS 39565

Ted: (228) 861-4029

Todd: (228) 365-4594

Tim: (228) 365-8751

Sunny K Longhorns

Bonnie & Ian Kuecker Verhelle, Texas (832) 212-4323 burnsgrant626@gmail.com

Les Mallory Round Top, Texas (979) 208-9387

Vivian Page Bar V Ranch Driftwood Texas Barvlonghorns.Com vivianpage06@gmail.com

Debbie Adams Wimberley, TX 713-416-9740 bosslady1961@icloud.com

To be listed on this page please contact Russell at russellh@longhornroundup.com

Est. in 1991

Working to preserve the heritage genetics of the Texas

Longhorn Breed

The Texas Longhorn made more history than any other breed of cattle the civilized world has known…

J. Frank Dobie

If you are interested in joining CTLR’s efforts to preserve the heritage Texas Longhorn please call the CTLR or visit our website.

(one time fee)

(annual)

By T.D. Kelsey

From an

Three months will be devoted to sculpting and six months to mold and cast. The ten foot study required more than twenty hours for just the patina process alone. Terry related that the study used up over a ton of clay and the manufacturer delivered the clay in one pound packages. A helper spent nearly one week unwrapping it all.

Terry estimates that four tons of clay will go into the monument, but this time he’s hoping to get clay in somewhat larger quantities! Work will begin in January or February at a location in Loveland, Colorado Adjoining the foundry, and is scheduled for completion in the spring of 1984.

Terry will build a track on which the armature may be moved out of the building, affording him the ability to stand back from a distance of two to three blocks to view the work in progress. He said the most difficult part of sculpting is not to be able to “see” the work at close range… “I may sculpt for only five minutes then stand back and look for twenty.”

The 49 bronze steers and 3 trail riders sculptures were created by artist Robert Summers of Glen Rose, Texas.

article in the December 1982 Longhorn Scene magazine.