Page "Texas Longhorn (cattle)" Paragraph 6

As Texas became more heavily settled following annexation by the US, the frontier gave way to established farms and ranch lands.

The leaner longhorn beef was not as attractive in an era where tallow was highly prized, and the longhorn's ability to survive on the poor vegetation of the open range was no longer as much of an issue.

Other breeds demonstrated traits more highly valued by the modern rancher, such as the ability to gain weight quickly.

The Texas longhorn stock slowly dwindled, until in 1927 the breed was saved from near extinction by enthusiasts from the United States Forest Service, who collected a small herd of stock to breed on the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Lawton, Oklahoma.

A few years later, J. Frank Dobie and others gathered small herds to keep in Texas state parks.

They were cared for largely as curiosities, but the stock's longevity, resistance to disease and ability to thrive on marginal pastures quickly revived the breed as beef stock.

Today, the breed is used as a beef stock, though many Texas ranchers keep herds due to their link to Texas history.