"Longhorn cattle are more than horns and hides,” stated Greg Brown of Lucky Falling Star Ranch in southern Howell County. “People used to think of Longhorns and think of crazy rodeo cattle raised for horns. There are many other options for Texas Longhorns these days,” he explained.
Greg and his wife Karol moved to the Ozarks in the fall of 1993 and brought their cattle with them. “We moved from Maryland because we wanted to raise cattle and couldn’t do that there,” he recalled. “We bought our first Longhorns in 1991 and as we realized we wanted to expand we couldn’t afford it. Land at that time was anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 an acre in the east.
“We got our hands on a real estate magazine from the Ozarks and we liked what we saw,” said Greg. They had no family ties or friends in the area, but upon researching the land, the weather and climate, they chose 150 acres just south of West Plains, Mo.
“We traveled out here in the spring of 1991 and 1992 and got to make the actual move in the fall of 1993,” explained Greg.
Longhorns in Missouri
The Brown’s currently have 25 mama cows, two bulls and one steer. “When we moved we brought six head with us,” recalled Greg. “Since then we’ve bought some, sold some and bred some to increase our numbers.
“Our cattle are calm and docile,” he added. “If I can’t go out there and move them using a bucket of grain, we don’t keep them around. We have two big bulls, one weighing about a ton, and with anything that big we want to feel safe. Our Longhorns have the right disposition for us to be comfortable.”
The Market
Texas Longhorns are not always thought of as a beef breed, but Greg wants to dispel that thinking. “Over the past 15 years, we’ve butchered calves for ourselves and there is no comparison to the meat in our minds. Our animals are lean with just enough marbling fat to make the meat taste good. We’ve even crossed them with a Limousin bull and achieved good weaning weights on calves that can be sold at the local stock yards,” he added.
“All and all, there is no waste in Longhorn cattle,” explained Greg. “People use them for commercial herds because they are a hearty breed that thrives and adapts anywhere. People have commented that our cattle at 2 p.m. on a hot day are lying on the hillside while their animals are standing in the pond,” he chuckled.
“Besides the crossbreeding uses for the cattle, Longhorns are used for roping calves and the hides, heads and horns can also be sold,” he said. “Depending on the color of the hide, they are very popular. That’s one of the things that drew me to the breed – the variety of coloring and markings. Depending on the hide color and the style of horns, flat or twisty, the demand continues to grow.”
There really aren’t any major differences in raising Longhorn cattle to raising more traditional beef breeds, according to Greg.
"Obviously handling and working the cattle can be a little challenging because of their horns,” said Greg. “It actually becomes a time when you must outthink the animal.
“All our cross fences work into alleyways around water tanks and we’ve recently purchased a working chute specialized for Longhorn cattle. Panels open on the side and animals are caught and can be squeezed before they realize it,” explained Greg.
Karol added, “You just have to be careful because of the horns. They are always aware of where their horns are and we have to pay attention too.”
“We have a big steer with horns almost 100 inches from tip to tip and he will come down the alleyway to where it narrows to four feet and never slow down. He turns his head just right and gets through the space without ever hitting metal,” Greg added.
Calendar Bulls
Longhorns from the Lucky Falling Star Ranch have been featured in a National Longhorn calendar. “The man we purchased our bulls from is actually an artist and paints and photographs Longhorns. Because I knew of his interests, I took a picture of our two bulls that turned out really well and I sent it to him. He asked if I’d be interested in having that picture in the calendar. Of course I said yes,” explained Greg.
“Then the next year, he asked if I had any pictures to include,” said Greg. “So it was actually just because I knew him we were lucky enough to get in the calendar, but it was still a proud moment to see the bulls in the calendar.”
Greg and Karol have lived in the Ozarks for 15 years and raised their kids and cattle here. “We’ve been blessed and hope to continue to raise Longhorn cattle that people will want to buy for roping, seedstock or just because they like the look. Whatever the reason, we hope to have the cattle to sell them,” Greg concluded.
