Silver Star Ranch

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To Honor and Respect all those who cut the trail and to create this Distinguished Magnificent breed of Texas Longhorns and the Miniature Texas Longhorns.

The Texas Longhorn became the foundation of the American cattle industry by claiming first rights in the untamed, newly discovered Americas a little over 500 years ago. In 1493, Christopher Columbus brought Spanish cattle to Santa Domingo, and within two hundred years their descendents would be grazing the ranges of Mexico.

In 1690, the first herd of cattle, only about 200 head, were driven northward from Mexico to a mission near the Sabine River-a land that would become known as Texas. The early missions and ranchers would not survive all of the elements. But the Texas Longhorn would.

By the time of the Civil War, nearly 300 years after setting foot in America, millions of Longhorns ranged between the mesquite-dotted sandy banks of the Rio Bravo to the sand beds of the Sabine. Most of the Longhorns were unbranded, survivors of Indian raids, scattered by stampedes and weather, escaped from missions or abandoned after ranch failures.

The survivors of the Civil War returned home to Texas to find abandoned ranches, unplowed farm fields—and herds of wild cattle, which would soon become gold in their pockets. In the next quarter century, 10 million head were trailed North to fatten on lush Midwestern grasses or shipped directly by rail to the beef-hungry East. 

Texas Longhorns, groomed by Mother Nature, carried the ideal characteristics of resistance-they were tremendous for long drives. They could go incredible distances without water, rustle for their own food, fend for themselves, swim rivers, survive the desert sun and winter snow.

But, at the turn of the century, sundown came for the Texas Longhorn. It took less than 40 years, fenced in land, plows and an overwhelming demand in the marketplace to drive the Longhorn closer to extinction than the buffalo.

Gradually, more breeders started raising private stock, recognizing the value of Texas Longhorns. The need grew for breed standards and a direct line of communication between the Longhorn breeders.

Men & Ranches that are Pioneers of the Texas Longhorn Breeds

John Fore and the Forsite Ranch:

 John Fore in 1993 decided to preserve the Texas Longhorns and to Create the Miniature Breed through many years of searching for the smallest genes of the breed. Then through breeding has become the pioneer in Texas Miniature Longhorns and one of the sought after Breeders of the Texas Miniature Longhorns. He once had a far fetched dream and now has seen the reality of a pure Texas Miniature Longhorns.

Milby Butler and his Family Ranches:

A pioneer cattleman who began raising Texas Longhorns in the early 1900's. His cattle trace back to the wild cattle of east Texas and the Gulf Coast. Most of Milby's cattle were butchered after he died in 1971 but the best were saved by several selective breeders. The Butler line is known for exceptional horn growth. Perhaps the most famous Butler cattle were Bevo and Beauty. Today the Bulter Bulls and Cows blood lines are sought out for their Horns.

The WR (Wildlife Refuge) Bloodline:

 The WR line of Longhorns is a selective breeding that began with the acquisition of breeding stock in 1927. Earl Drummond, Heck Schrader, Joe Bill Lee and Elmer Parker Jr. viewed thousands of the remaining Longhorns to acquire 20 cows and 3 bulls to start this breed. Then through the years more Bulls and Cows were added to strengthen this breed line and has become one of the most popular of today.

Graves Peeler and his Family Ranches:   

Mr. Peeler raised longhorns, a tradition established by his father starting in 1931, extensively after losing many heads of English-bred cattle in a blizzard. One of the most well known of the Peeler cattle was YO Carmela I. The first cow registered by the TLBAA.

Emil H. Marks and his family Ranch:

 Mr. Marks in 1920 noticed due to the eastern beef requirements that the Longhorns were disappearing so he decided it was important to hold back some of his best animals to enrich the Texas Longhorn Breed and Bloodlines.

M.P. Wright and the Wright Family:

Originated in South Texas where they had a ranching & slaughter business. So when Ranchers would bring in Longhorns for sale, Mr. Wright would select the best Longhorns for Breeding and this became his stock. His 1st 100 animals were acquired this way. In 1965 his herd consisted of 222 registered Texas Longhorns.

Cap Yates and the Yates Family:

With Mr. Yates interested in the Texas Longhorns and the purity of the “Old Type” Breed. While he was a Ranch Forman in 1910, bought many cattle from Mexico because they could survive on the desolate, harsh land of South Texas and knew that the Texas Longhorns were the only breed that could.

Jack Phillips and the Phillips Family:

 Jack followed his father and grandfather in raising Texas Longhorn cattle. Phillips had raised Longhorns for 30 years before the TLBAA was formed in 1964. Phillips always looked for long legs, long bodies, slender heads, long bushy tails and good horns. He used the selection rules of conformation first, followed by horns and color traits. Texas Ranger JP is perhaps the best known animals from this bloodline. Known as the sire for size.

TLBAA Miniature
Longhorn Breeders

Home of the First Born Registered Miniature Longhorn Calf. Sire and Dam were both Registered Miniature Texas Longhorns by TLBAA. The calf - Summer Daze - was automatically registered as a Miniature by TLBAA.

 

Cowboy rules

For Arizona, Texas , Colorado , Oklahoma , New Mexico , Wyoming , Montana , Utah , Idaho, Nevada and the rest of the Wild West are as follows:

1. So you have a $60,000 car. We're impressed. We have $250,000 Combines that are driven only 3 weeks a year.
2. Every person in the Wild West waves. It's called being friendly. Try to understand the concept...
3. If that cell phone rings while a bunch of geese/pheasants/ducks/doves are comin' in during the hunts, we WILL shoot it outa your hand. You better hope you don't have it up to your ear at the time.
4. Yeah. We eat trout, salmon, deer and elk. You really want sushi and caviar? It's available at the corner bait shop.
5. The 'Opener' refers to the first day of deer season. It's a religious holiday held the closest Saturday to the first of November.
6. We open doors for women. That's applied to all women, regardless of age.
7. No, there's no 'vegetarian special' on the menu. Order steak, or you can order the Chef's Salad and pick off the 2 pounds of ham and turkey.
8. When we fill out a table, there are three main dishes: meats, vegetables, and breads. We use three spices: salt, pepper, and ketchup!
9. Oh, yeah - We don't care what you folks in Cincinnati call that stuff you eat IT AIN'T REAL CHILI!!
10. You bring 'Coke' into my house, it better be brown, wet and served over ice. You bring 'Mary Jane' into my house, she better be cute, know how to shoot, drive a truck, and have long hair.
11. College and High School Football is as important here as the Giants, the Yankees, the Mets, the Lakers and the Knicks, and a dang site more fun to watch.
12. Yeah, we have golf courses. But don't hit the water hazards - it spooks the fish.
13. Turn down that blasted car stereo! That thumpity-thump crap ain't music, anyway. We don't want to hear it anymore than we want to see your boxers! Refer back to #1!