Texas Longhorns Mount

On display are a pair of horns for the Texas Longhorn. The Texas longhorn is an American breed of beef cattle, characterized by its long horns, which can span more than 8 ft (2.4 m) from tip to tip. The coat can be of any color or mix of colors; in some 40% of the cattle it is some shade of red, often a light red. They are derived from cattle brought to the Americas by Spanish conquistadors from the time of the Second Voyage of Christopher Columbus until about 1512. Over the next two centuries, the Spaniards used the cattle in Mexico and gradually moved them north to accompany their expanding settlements. The Spaniards reached the area that became known as "Texas" near the end of the 17th century. Eventually, some cattle escaped or were turned loose on the open range, where they remained mostly feral for the next two centuries. Over several generations, descendants of these cattle developed to have high feed- and drought-stress tolerances and other "hardy" characteristics that have given Longhorns their reputation as livestock.

The Texas Longhorn stock slowly dwindled, but in 1927, the breed was saved from near extinction by enthusiasts from the United States Forest Service. In 1995, the Texas Legislature designated the Texas Longhorn as the state's largest mammal. In the 21st century, Texas Longhorns from elite bloodlines can sell for $40,000 or more at auction with the record of $380,000 on March 18, 2017. These cows are now known as a living relic repenting the stats past and character, often featured in art, literature, and even in University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Longhorns Football Team with their mascot Bevo, a Texas Longhorn. In addition, some of these horns of the cattle are used as decorative pieces in people’s homes or in some cases decorative hood ornaments.

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