TEXAS LONG HORNS Think cowboys and rodeos and North Queensland wouldn t normally spring to mind. But at Leahton Park, less than two hours from Townsville, the great Aussie outback meets the Wild West. Chris pays a visit to Michael and Lynda Bethel and their impressive herd of Texas Longhorns. These iconic cattle are steeped in the history of the American Old West and the Bethels own the largest herd in Australia. Among them is JR, a steer with 3-metre long horns that until recently held the record for the longest horns in the world! Sadly, Chris meets JR to break the unfortunate news that his long horns have been outgrown by a younger steer in the USA.
TEXAS LONGHORN WAGON TOURS & SAFARIS, LEAHTON PARK Less than two hours drive from Townsville and only 20 minutes from Charters Towers, those seeking a unique North Queensland experience will not be disappointed at Leahton Park. Lynda and Michael Bethel own and run this 1100-acre ranch and open their doors to tourists during the cooler months of the year. They are the proud owners of the largest herd of fullblood Texas Longhorn cattle in Australia, which they breed with an emphasis on structure, fertility and temperament. They run regular Texas Longhorn Wagon Tours & Safaris for visitors to see these amazing animals.
Amongst the herd is a steer called JR, the 2013 Guinness World Record holder for the longest horns. His horns measure an impressive 3 metres tip-to-tip! At the property you can also see Water Buffalo, American Bison, African Watusi and Scottish Highland cattle. Jumping aboard a horse-drawn wagon, you will feel as though you are on the set of a Western movie travelling back in time to the American Old West and the era of the legendary Texas Longhorns. During a Leahton Park wagon tour, visitors can learn about the history behind these impressive cattle whilst enjoying a traditional Aussie Smoko, including a camp oven cooked damper and billy tea served from a genuine cowboy chuck wagon. Lynda and Michael have been running these tours since 2009, which also include an informative tour of the Bethel Saddlery saddle shop. Michael Bethel is a self-taught saddler who has been making Western and bespoke saddles professionally since 1988. Tours operate yearly from May to September. Wagon tours ($80 per person) start at 9.30am on Wednesdays and Sundays. Safari tours ($57 per person) offer an up close Texas Longhorn experience from the comfort of an all terrain Polaris Ranger. They are available on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and start at 9am.
ABOUT JR 2013 GUINNESS WORLD RECORD FOR LONGEST HORNS The most well known longhorn at Leahton Park is JR full name Johnny Reb who achieved global fame in 2013 with a Guinness World Record for the largest horn spread. JR was born on 3rd January 2005 and quickly impressed his owners, Michael and Lynda, with the rate of growth in his horns. They begun to take regular measurements and eventually submitted a verified entry to the Guinness World Records in London. Subsequently he was crowned the longest-horned Texas Longhorn and appeared in the 2013 book of Guinness World Records! Today, JR s horns measure 3.0 metres tip-to-tip making him Leahton Park s star attraction.
Sadly since 2013, JR has lost his title to an American competitor. A steer by the name of Bluegrass now holds the title for the largest horn spread at 307.499 cm (121.063 in) in length. But JR still has the title of longest horns in Australia! FACTS ABOUT TEXAS LONGHORNS What do Texas Longhorns eat? They are very robust cattle and great foragers, so they can survive on poor pasture in hard times. However the better pasture they have to graze on, the better they will do. What is the difference between a bull and a steer? A bull is a male animal, whereas a steer is a male that has been neutered.
Who grows the longest horns? Usually steers. Bulls horns grow quickly but will stop growing at around six years. The lack of testosterone in steers and cows means that they grow the longest horns. What colour are their hides? Texas Longhorns come in all colours and patterns even spotted. What age do Texas Longhorns live to? At Leahton Park, their oldest Texas Longhorn steer is 16 years old and going strong. Their oldest cow lived to 18. Are they born with horns? No, they usually start showing the tips of horns at about 3 weeks. What climate do Texas Longhorns typically survive in? Longhorns have been bred over many years and are known to be a hardy and adaptable breed of cattle. They can therefore survive in nearly any climate. Are Texas Longhorns dangerous? Despite their imposing horns, Texas Longhorns are usually quiet, gentle cattle to keep. Their horns are long and sharp and should be treated with caution. Occasionally Longhorns will fight amongst themselves but this is very rare. Do they require much veterinary care? No, as Texas Longhorns have minimal health problems. If Longhorns are getting enough nutrition and adequate husbandry practices are followed, health problems are quite rare. What traits make Texas Longhorns so hardy and unique? Lean meat naturally less fat and lower cholesterol
High fertility level and easy births mean more live calves Longevity they breed well into their teens They are good foragers for food and require less supplemental feed Disease resistance they have a natural immunity developed over centuries Adaptability the breed thrives in a range of climates HISTORY OF THE TEXAS LONGHORN Despite their name, Texas Longhorns are not indigenous to the country they re named after but actually originated from Europe. They are descended from the Spanish cattle that were brought over to the USA in the 1500s, with the influx of New World settlers and explorers.
In the turbulent years of the American Civil War that followed the Texas Longhorn s introduction to the USA, they were often abandoned to fend for themselves across the land. They lived successfully in the wild and became known for their hardy and resilient characteristics. By 1865 a population of approximately 5-6 million longhorns thrived in Texas, most of which were un-owned and unbranded. At the end of the war, the process of rounding up the longhorns began and the great trail drives set off to bring the cattle to market towns in the north. Against the combination of threats from disease, weather and thieves that plagued these journeys, it was the cowboy s job to deliver his herd safely. For his labours he would receive US$30 a month and drives would usually last four to six months over a 1,500-mile distance. Long hours, tough conditions and abundant dangers were all part of the job description. A previously calm herd of longhorns could become a stampede of alarm and panic in the fraction of a second. When this happened, the lives of both man and beast were at risk and there are many accounts of trampled cowboys and hundreds of dead cattle that stampeded to their deaths. These daily struggles attracted a certain type of man to the job and this inevitably shaped the persona of the American cowboy. Texas Longhorns became a vital source of income for many in the American Southwest after the Civil War. They were the bread-and-butter of the cowboys often men returning home from battle who would become the legendary icons of Western folklore.
WEBLINKS texaslonghorn.com.au texaslonghorns.com.au historynet.com/texas-longhorns-a-short-history.htm guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-horn-spread-domestic-cattle