Overview

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  Longhorn cattle are distinguished by their longer than average horns, which might sweep up, down or even back. While there is no measurement for how long a cattle breed's horns need to be to be considered longhorns, there are three breeds that are typically referred to when the word "longhorn" is used.
  
  

English Longhorn

• The English longhorn originally came from Ireland and England, and is primarily used as a meat producer. During the 1700s, the breed was selected for quick growth and heavy weight, and it was used widely through England and Ireland until the early 1800s, when the shorthorn breed rose in popularity. The shorthorn became more popular due to the fact that it produced more milk than the longhorn, and the longhorn declined until efforts were made to revive the breed in 1980. Cows range between 1,100 pounds and 1,300 pounds, while bulls can weigh up to 2,200 pounds.
  
  

Fouta Longhorn

• The Fouta longhorn is more commonly called the N'dama, and this breed originally comes from the highlands of Guinea. Because it is resistant to parasites, it has spread throughout Central Africa, Nigeria, Gabon and Zaire. It is a hardy breed with horns that tend to grow up in a lyre shape, and it is used for both meat and milk production. Male and female Fouta longhorn tend to range between 550 pounds and 650 pounds in weight.
  
  

Texas Longhorn

• Texas longhorns are descended from Spanish and English cattle, and the breed was largely feral during the early part of the 1820s and 1830s. When the bison started disappearing due to over-hunting, ranches were set up further west, and Texas longhorns, due to their hardiness, were the breed of choice. The breed declined when better fencing made it possible to protect less hardy breeds that grew faster. The Texas longhorn is a meat producer, and it is known for having a wide variety in coat colors and patterns. Cows can weigh up to 800 pounds, while bulls tend to weigh around 1,200 pounds.