Texas Longhorn Breed Evaluation Chart
1. General Type
Desirable
Good length with moderate depth an thickness. Top of hips slightly higher than top of shoulders. Angular shaped body. Strong legs with free movement. Bulls thicker and more heavily muscled than cows, exhibiting masculine crest development on neck at maturity.
Questionable
Undesirable
Any evidence of hump directly over shoulder region or evidence of other than Longhorn breed standards.
Max Points
3
2. Ears
Desirable
Medium to small, short round ears, pigmented and fitted horizontally under horns or sloping slightly upward.
Questionable
Longer, droopy ears.
Undesirable
Extremely large and/or droopy ears. Unpigmented ears.
Max Points
2
3. Head
Desirable
Showing masculinity or femininity according to sex; moderate width. From poll to muzzle straight profile. Pigmented around eyes. Symmetrical eyes, and nose alignment.
Questionable
Wide blocky head. convex forehead. "Roman nose." .
Undesirable
Masculine or steer type head on cows. Steer type head on bulls. Long nose.
Max Points
4
4. Muzzle
Desirable
Mealy mouthed or pigmented, wide and symmetrical. Teeth correctly aligned.
Questionable
Non-pigmented.
Undesirable
Wry nose, overshot or under shot jaw. Harelip or deformed palate.
Max Points
4
5. Neck
Desirable
Trim on cows, muscular on bulls. Long with minimal loose skin.
Questionable
Ewe neck or very short. Pendulous dewlap.
Undesirable
Masculine on cow. Feminine on bull.
Max Points
4
6. Shoulders
Desirable
Free moving, smooth. Well-muscled on bulls. blending smoothly to neck and ribs.
Questionable
Open on top sharply dropping down behind shoulders.
Undesirable
Wide coarse or too vertical.
Max Points
3
7. Brisket
Desirable
Trim and free from excessive fleshiness.
Questionable
Excessive fat, downward sloping and excessive dewlap.
Undesirable
Fullness in lower neck and brisket to give a Buffalo type silhouette.
Max Points
2
8. Tail
Desirable
Long with full switch.
Questionable
Very short tail.
Undesirable
Wry tail or genetic bob tail.
Max Points
2
9. Back
Desirable
Strong straight topline with maximum length between the shoulders and hooks.
Questionable
Extreme swayback and shortness between shoulders and hooks.
Undesirable
Long chine bones on cows extending much higher than shoulder blades revealing inconsistent calving history.
Max Points
7
10. Loin
Desirable
Broad and full rib eye area.
Questionable
Narrow and low.
Undesirable
Extremely narrow and low.
Max Points
4
11. Ribs
Desirable
Well sprung elliptical.
Questionable
Slab sided.
Undesirable
Extyremely wide.
Max Points
2
12. Hooks and Pins
Desirable
Reasonably prominent with maximum length between.
Questionable
Excessive narrowness between hooks. Short between hooks and pins.
Undesirable
Excessive downward slope toward rear. Excessively level from hooks to pins.
Max Points
4
13. Hindquarters
Desirable
Long, slightly sloping from hooks to pins. Full and well developed.
Questionable
High pins and tail head associated with tilted vulva.
Undesirable
Short, narrow, extra droopy. Small and concave.
Max Points
6
14. Heart Girth
Desirable
Full on Bulls. Angular on Cows.
Questionable
Pinched girth.
Undesirable
Deep chested non angular cows.
Max Points
2
15. Legs and Feet
Desirable
Squarely set, sound feet, legs, hocks, and joints with abundant bone. Hard hooves.
Questionable
Short legs, sickle hocks or "Post" legs - extra close weak hocks, very small bones.
Undesirable
Mule footed. Unsoundness. Weak pasterns. Open toes.
Max Points
6
16. Size and Flesh
Desirable
Easy fleshing. Adequate size for environment to show good gain and health.
Questionable
Small for age and environment.
Undesirable
Unthrifty, chronic-poor flesh. Lacking mature size for environment.
Max Points
6
17. Hide
Desirable
Vascular and pliable.
Questionable
Too tight or excessive skin fold. Excessive sheath, neck flap or navel flap.
Undesirable
Max Points
2
18. Hair (dependent on environment)
Desirable
Cows - Short, straight, slick coat. Bulls - Coarse, wire-type hair on head and neck. Long hair in ears.
Questionable
Dull, dry bristly hair.
Undesirable
Slow shedding in spring season. Long shaggy hair indicative of impurities such as Scotch Highland.
Max Points
1
19. Sheath
Desirable
Retracted prepuce, small orifice, flat small-sized navel flap.
Questionable
Undesirable
Long pendulous sheath, non-retractable prepuce. Excessive navel flap on male and female.
Max Points
3
20. Udder and Teats
Desirable
Well attached udder, equally balanced quarters, pigmented small teats, and abundant milk production adequate to raise a fat calf.
Questionable
Teats too large for calf to nurse at birth.
Undesirable
Hard, firm, meaty udder, unable to produce enough milk for her calf.
Max Points
6
21. Disposition
Desirable
Mild, tractable.
Questionable
Nervous
Undesirable
Unmanageable
Max Points
5
22. Reproduction
Desirable
Early maturity and longevity. Cows - Regular calving and early puberty. bulls - Masculine, virile, high libido, high quality semen in volume.
Questionable
Abnormal reproductive organs.
Undesirable
Cows - Slow breeders, late puberty, abortive. Bulls - Unmatched testes and below breed average scrotal circumferences.
Max Points
6
23. Color
Desirable
More varied than those of the Rainbow. Colors and mixes are so various that no two appear exactly alike. Wild, flamboyant, loud colors.
Questionable
Color patterns that would indicate impurities such as Hereford markings.
Undesirable
Non-pigmented around eyes, nose, ears, and teats.
Max Points
6
24. Horn Growth
Desirable
Cows - Wide, twisted outward, measuring 70" or more, tip to tip at maturity. Bulls - Horns with lateral length and a slight forward upward sweep of 70" or more tip to tip on mature bulls, and a base circumference of 12" or more.
Questionable
Cows - Horns that curve sharply upward and or measure under 45" tip to tip at maturity. Bulls - Horns that curve sharply upward and or inward with under 60" tip to tip at maturity. Small base circumference.
Undesirable
Small amount of horn as to indicate impurities or below traditional horn size.
