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Buyers converge on Texas longhorn showcase

“We’re starting to get horn genetics in Canada that are competing with the States,” Jeff Jespersen
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Size matters for farmers measuring the length of horn on a Texas longhorn Saturday

The adage “size matters” rings true for the Texas longhorn horn measuring that occurred last weekend at the Calnash Ag Event Centre.

The Canadian Texas Longhorn Association (CTLA) hosted its second annual longhorn select sale and horn measuring in the barn of the ag centre Saturday, Oct 4. On the same day, at satellite locations across North America, hundreds of longhorns were being measured, explained Jeff Jespersen, a director with the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America.

He says the horn measuring and auction held in Ponoka is the only one in Canada, which brought Canadian breeders from British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Jespersen said the goal with Canadian breeders is to be able to compete with those in the United States and he feels the best way to do that is with long horns.

“We’re starting to get horn genetics in Canada that are competing with the States,” said Jespersen.

When conducting horn measurements, Jespersen says they must follow certain rules so the Texas longhorns can compete against cattle across North America. Steers compete against steers and heifers against heifers, he said as an example of how comparisons work.

From there, results will be judged against the different satellite locations. For some buyers a Texas longhorn brings a leaner meat that is said to be healthier but for others, a longhorn adds a sense of nostalgia of old western days, explained Jeremy Farmer, a longhorn breeder in Lake Country, B.C.

“We have people stop 12 to 15 cars a day to stop and take pictures,” said Farmer of his longhorns.

It was a little awe-inspiring to see two specific longhorns during the measuring; Hunts Dash for Cash, co-owned by Farmer and Jespersen, is a four-year-old longhorn that had a tip-to-tip horn length of 70 5/8 inches and a total horn measurement – this follows the curve of the horns from beginning to end – of 101 inches.

Breeders always take two measurements and if they are out within an inch, a third or fourth measurement will be taken, explained Farmer. “An eighth of an inch can make the difference.”

Then Mark Stewart, of MSW Meats in Ponoka, brought out his steer, Blade, who had whopping tip-to-tip length of 102.5 inches and a total horn length of 128.25 inches. Viewers could not help but be impressed when Blade turned his head sideways to get out of his pen.

Jespersen says breeders closely monitor the behaviour of their longhorns and if they are in any way aggressive, they will be taken out of the breeding program. He says the animals are bred for their calm demeanor.

Later that day an auction was held in the barn of the ag event centre with Canadian breeders hoping to bring in top dollar for their longhorns.