t3

The Longhorns

Did you know... In the early part of the 20th century, longhorn cattle were almost extinct?

The animal that is synonymous with cowboys and mustangs when you think of the wild west was almost bred out of existence with the influx of European "fat cattle" breeds. The longhorn, like the mustang, originated mostly from Spanish influence cattle that had escaped the Spanish settlers in the Southern half of North America. Like the mustangs, they ran wild on the open range of the great western landscape and survival of the fittest produced a tough lanky animal that could survive even the harshest conditions.

On the open range free roaming feral unbranded cattle were there for the taking and "Mavericks" were rounded up, branded, and driven north to provide beef for the expanding white population moving west. As the open range disappeared, so did the longhorn. They didn't posses the fat needed to produce tallow for candles, soap and other products so they weren't as desirable as the stockier/fatter European breeds.

Like their cousins the buffalo, by the1930's the remnants of the once vast herds had dwindled to a few hundred and were confined to small preserves, many times along side the Buffalo. Buffalo and cattle can produce offspring called "beefalo", but they are sterile, so the blood remained pure.

Fortunately a few foresighted men selected the best animals from those herds and began a breeding program that prevented the Longhorn from disappearing all together.

Today, Longhorns not only represent a piece of American history, but they have retained their inherent ability for survival. They are low maintenance, they are disease resistant, they have few calving problems AND they produce a leaner healthier beef than the European breeds.

Our Bulls

Tex Critter

Tex came to us in 2008 from Livengood Farms at Burlington Junction, Missouri. He was not registered, but was from registered stock. He was an awesome creature. He had a super disposition, although he had a very imposing appearance, he was extremely Docile.

Tex has been sold.

Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown is a "miniature Longhorn". For those who are not familiar with miniature cattle, they are not dwarfs, just small versions of their particular breed. At 45 inches and 750 lbs at 4 years of age, Charlie was about 1/2 the size of a standard Longhorn Bull.

As a rule, for a cow to be considered a miniature it must be no more than 45" tall and bulls no more than 48" at the pin bone. All other conformation characteristics should be the same as the standard of the particular breed.

Charlie has been sold.

When I got my first longhorns, they were mainly just eye candy. As I learned more about the breed, I fell in love with them. At the advice of a very respected and successful Longhorn breeder I made the decision to go registered and to build my herd by obtaining the oldest best blood I could find. This is the bull I chose. With the miracle of Frozen Semen I am able to breed to an outstanding bull who is long dead. I can't tell you how excited I am about this.

"Bouncer produces steers with tremendous horn spread and base.....He passes on his brindle coloration in which the brown, black, red, dun and white combine for a beautiful effect which often combines with roan faces. He passes on this extraordinary color, increased growth and moderate size with trophy quality horns."

One of his most famous sons is Super Bowl. Because Bouncer has been deceased for many years there is very little Bouncer semen available. I was fortunate to acquire some to use on Brandy and Lazy in 2010.

T3 QUARTER HORSES
Lisa Thompson
24947 Holt 110
Mound City, MO 64470
660-442-3609

Our Cows Click on thumbnails to enlarge their papers.
	DHB Lady Brandy Brush- 2007 TLBAA Black cow with white speckled rump. Brandy had her first calf October 20, 2009. Brandy will be bred to Bouncer with frozen semen for a 2011 calf. Cow Patty - sired by Charlie Brown, born October 20, 2000, Patty is red with a white tail and spots on her rump like her momma. Born a light "Dun" color, Patty is getting much darker will probably brindle out to look like her daddy.

	DHB Lazy Girl Brew - 2007 TLBAA Red amd white spotted cow. Brandy had her first calf November 18, 2009. Lazy will be bred to Bouncer with frozen semen for a 2011 calf. Bull Chip - Sired by Charlie Brown. Born November 18, 2009, Chip is almost identical to Patty, except he has a little more white on his rump and he has maintained the dun color as he has grown. By three months of age, Chip was displaying the beginnings of a pretty impressive set of horns.

	Domino - 2008 unregistered heifer, exposed to Charlie Brown for a spring 2010 calf. For sale $500.

	Tipper - Sired by Tex, born September 30,2009 out of commercial black cow 62. After we sold our Brauhnvieh bull in the fall of 2008, Tex Critter moved in with the commercial cows for a while before he was sold in the spring. Apparently Cow 62 was open so Tex did some "clean-up". All that shows of his Tipper's longhorn parentage is his markings. Tipper is black with a white tip on his tail and white feet, but at almost 5 months he shows no sign of having horns.