Welcome to Hooks Longhorns
Raising Historic Butler Texas Longhorns since 1980
"Makers of Longhorn History"
Welcome to Hooks Longhorns
Raising Historic Butler Texas Longhorns since 1980
"Makers of Longhorn History"
Raising Historic Butler Texas Longhorns since 1980
"Makers of Longhorn History"
Raising Historic Butler Texas Longhorns since 1980
"Makers of Longhorn History"
At Hooks Longhorns we specialize in breeding and raising beautiful Texas Longhorns with the goals of preserving the Historic Butler bloodline and preserving the genetics of the true Heritage Texas Longhorn. While we specialize in raising cattle that are from the Historic Butler Bloodline we have also established a small herd of Heritage Texas Longhorns. I have always had a passion and respect for the Texas Longhorn breed from both a genetic and a historic prospective. I like to say "they were created by God and refined by mother nature".
Pure Butler genetics are becoming rare within the Longhorn breed. Butler genetics once had a major impact on the Longhorn industry. Today's Longhorn breeder's are more focused on the blending of the different families or bloodlines to achieve hybrid vigor because it usually results in more measurable horn growth. This has resulted in the pure bloodlines being almost bred out of existence. Most of today's top cattle trace back to some percentage of Butler genetics. The Butler bloodline is the only one that can be found in it's pure form. This is only due to the dedicate breeders that have been working to raising straight/pure Butler cattle over the last 28 years. We are proud to be part of this effort. We love the beauty, grace and rarity of Butler Texas Longhorns.
As we start the new year of 2025 we are excited to be establishing a small herd of Heritage Texas Longhorns. These cattle are the closest genetic links to the original Texas Longhorns that once roamed this country. Because of this they also have all the genetic traits and qualities that were critical to the survival of the Texas Longhorn breed. Our Heritage Texas Longhorns are registered with the Cattlemen's Texas Longhorn Registry. These cattle are DNA tested and visually inspected for purity before being accepted in to the herd books of the registry. We feel that preserving the genetics of Heritage Texas Longhorn is very important. With today's breeders being more focused on producing extreme horn lengths a number of important Longhorn traits have been decreasing over the years. Today's modern Longhorn is lacking many of the traits and qualities that makes this breed uniquely different from other breeds. The Longhorn breed has also seen an increase of non Longhorn genetics finding their way into the breed over the years of man's "improving" of the breed. The Heritage Texas Longhorns still has all of the breeds best known traits due to their direct link to the original Texas Longhorn. The original type of Texas Longhorn is becoming a rarity and we feel that their genetics are important enough to protect.
My wife, Felicia and I live in Kirbyville, TX on the family home place where I grow up. I am a fifth generation cattleman and have been working in the cattle industry for over 44 years. Over the years have worked as a ranch manager, herdsman, custom cattle fitter & showman. While running my custom cattle fitting and showing service I was blessed to produced numerous area and regional Champions, as well as World and National Champions. I have works as a Herd Consultant, helping to build several successful breeding programs for a number of ranches over the years. I have an extensive background in bovine care and handling that has yielded successful results. Over the years I have put my background and knowledge to work managing the in-house embryo programs for several top Texas Longhorn herds. I enjoy being able to help people achieve their goals and dreams in the Texas Longhorn industry. While my primary experience has been working with Texas Longhorns, I grew up working on my family's cow-calf operation. Working alongside my dad I learned how to handle all types of cattle. For me working with cattle is not just a job but a passion that I feels Blessed to be able to do. I also work with a number of top herds on their breeding and marketing programs through my Longhorn Round Up marketing service. I have traveled the country judging numerous Texas Longhorn shows each year including several of the major shows in the Longhorn industry. I am an approved ITLA and TLBAA judge. I currently serve on the board of the Texas Longhorn Breeders of America Foundation.
Russell & Felicia Hooks
Our main herd sire is Rising Star TH who is a son of Dalgood-BLC Kulik and Evening Star B R3. Both his sire and dam hold the high selling record price at the Butler Breeders Invitational Sale. He has also sired several top sellers at the Butler Breeders Invitational Sale. We place a high level of importance on the females lines in our herd sires. Star's pedigree contains some of the greatest Butler females in the history of the bloodline. We are honored to co-own Rising Star TH with John & Jane Thate. He has had a major impact on both of our breeding programs.
Our junior herd sire is a Rising Star TH grandson, High Frequency FC. His dam is a beautiful blue colored daughter of Rising Star TH. Frequency is not only impressive to look at with his eye catching brindle color and tip to tip horn measurement. His pedigree contains some of the greatest Butler females in the history of the bloodline. We place a high level of importance on the females lines in our herd sires. We are honored to co-own High Frequency FC with John & Jane Thate.
We are currently leasing Black Powder FC from Falls Creek Longhorns. He meets our requirements to be a herd sire with an impressive group of females in his pedigree. His sire provides a very close link to some of the best foundation Butler genetics. We are using Black Powder on our Rising Star daughter. We like to keep our cattle closely linked to foundation Butler genetics.
Pure Butler genetics are becoming rare within the Longhorn breed. Butler genetics once had a major impact on the Longhorn industry. With today's breeding programs being focused more on blending the different families or bloodlines most of the pure bloodlines have been bred out of existence. The Butler bloodline is the only one that can be found in it's pure form. This is only due to the dedicate breeders that have been working to raising straight/pure Butler cattle over the last 28 years.
The Milby Butler bloodline (also refereed to as Families) of Texas Longhorns was formed from cattle in the eastern to middle Gulf Coast region. In 1923 Milby decided to keep his Texas Longhorns pure and away from other breeds he was keeping. His original herds included duns from the Gulf Coast and white cattle with colored points from East Texas.
He occasional added good animals when he could find them. In 1931 he added a white cow from Phelps. A few of his cattle came from Esteban Garcia in Encino, Texas. One of these was Milby‘s excellent cow, Miss John Wayne, who appeared in the movie “The Alamo” staring John Wayne. The story goes that Mr. Wayne really took a liking to the twisty horn cow while filming the movie and tried to buyer her. Milby wouldn’t sell her but it is how she got her name of Miss John Wayne. A Peeler (another bloodline) bull was used for a very short while, although was killed before siring any but a very few calves.
Butler had up to 600 head of Texas Longhorns, and spent a great deal of time studying them and pairing them up for specific matings. A large portion of his herd was sold and slaughtered at the time of his death. Those genetics were lost forever but a few of Mildy’s cattle found their way into the hands of folks that would work to preserve the Bulter Longhorn genetics. The Butler line is an unique East Gulf Coast line of cattle with few bridges to the other bloodlines. Butler cattle have been the foundation of many herds. Some of these herds continue to breed the line as a pure line, while others have taken advantage of crossing the Butler line with others to generate some outstanding cattle. Milby Butler liked very long horns, and this trait persists to this day in his cattle.
The Butler Museum in Milby’s home town houses a large collection of skulls, shoulder mounts and much more related to the Butler Texas Longhorn Legacy. For the past 28 years a group of Longhorn breeders dedicated to preserving the Butler line of cattle have come together for the Annual Butler Breeders Invitational Sale featuring only cattle with a 100% Butler pedigree. Additional information can be found in the Longhorn Educational Center tab.
Open today | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm |
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