Longhorns have their greatest value in crossbreeding when longhorn bulls are used as a terminal sire (a bull whose offspring are sent to slaughter) on purebred or crossbred beef-type first-calf heifers. However, they can also be utilized in a three-breed rotation system.
Instructions
Using a Longhorn Bull as a Terminal Sire
Place a high quality Texas Longhorn bull in a pen or pasture with purebred or crossbred heifers at least 15 months of age.
Have heifers pregnancy-checked after 60 days. Cull any which are open.
After weaning, feed and manage the resulting crossbred calves for slaughter. Because of the longhorn's contribution to feed efficiency, crossbred calves are well suited to the valuable grass-fed beef niche market.
Using Longhorns in a Three Breed Rotation
Breed all cows in the herd to a longhorn bull. Hold back the highest quality female calves as replacement heifers. Market the remaining calves.
Breed the longhorn cross replacement heifers to a bull of a different breed (Bull B). Hold back the highest quality female calves as a new set of replacement heifers. Market the remaining calves.
Breed the Bull B/longhorn cross replacement heifers to a bull of a third breed (Bull C). Hold back the highest quality female calves as replacement heifers for the original cow herd (the ones which are bred to the longhorn bull). Market the remaining calves.
Repeat Steps 1 through 3, continuing to breed every cow to the bull to which she is least related. In this way, with three separate breeding herds bred to the longhorn bull, Bull B and Bull C respectively, maximum hybrid vigor is maintained.