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09/05/07, 10:52 PM
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Nohoa Homestead
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: SW Missouri near Branson (Cape Fair)
Posts: 5,398
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Totally weird cow/bull/steer/whatever
There is a bovine creature that lives near me (sex unknown, because I have never thought to look).
The reason that I have never thought to look is that this cow (used in the generic), has the most incredible horns I have ever seen.
Dh says it is a longhorn. But I have googled Texas Longhorn and ain't nuthin' there looks ANYTHING like this cow. I am going to try to snap a cellphone pic the next time I see it up by the road.
I mean this thing look like it has TRAFFIC CONES stuck to it's forehead. They are these HUGE CONICAL monstrosities! Nothing like the bighorns that I have seen pictures of.
Photos to follow in a day or so.
donsgal
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Life is what happens while you are making other plans. (John Lennon)
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09/05/07, 10:55 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,349
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What you are seeing is probably a Watusi.
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09/05/07, 11:02 PM
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Seeking Type
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: New York
Posts: 2,102
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That is a watusi.
Jeff
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"Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death" Patrick Henry, March 23rd, 1775
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09/05/07, 11:21 PM
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Nohoa Homestead
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: SW Missouri near Branson (Cape Fair)
Posts: 5,398
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I did a google search on Watusi, and it SURE LOOKS like the big cow. I can't imagine what one would be doing in the middle of the Ozarks, LOL. I guess they must have picked it up at an auction and maybe didn't know what to expect (it didn't have horns when they first got it!).
That's really interesting. Thanks! I knew I could count on my HT friends to figure it out for me.
Watusi, who'd a thunk it?
donsgal
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Life is what happens while you are making other plans. (John Lennon)
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09/06/07, 05:37 AM
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Seeking Type
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: New York
Posts: 2,102
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When I did the google search for Watusi. I got a strange warning "Your search string matches some viruses, hackers etc etc". It had me verify the little text thingy in order to continue.
So there is some sort of virus out there named watusi? lol.
Jeff
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"Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death" Patrick Henry, March 23rd, 1775
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09/06/07, 08:07 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: SW Missouri
Posts: 4,015
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I've seen these near our house too..folks have a bunch in the pasture. They are an awesome looking animal.
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SuzyHomemaker
rtfmfarm.com
LaMancha & Nubian goats
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09/06/07, 08:52 AM
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 17,225
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by donsgal
I did a google search on Watusi, and it SURE LOOKS like the big cow. I can't imagine what one would be doing in the middle of the Ozarks, LOL.
donsgal
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Some folks breed them as sort of a novelty. Evolving in a harsh climate I'm sure they have some genetic advantages that could prove valuable.
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I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
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Libertarindependent
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09/06/07, 10:53 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: MO
Posts: 914
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There is one in N. Ark called Lerch/Lurch (sp?) at Rocky Ridge Refuge.
http://www.rockyridgerefuge.com/lurch.htm
I see now that Jeff NY used his pic in his post. He is quite impressive to see in person.
Rachel
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09/06/07, 02:40 PM
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formerly hovey1716
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 913
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Also called an Ankole. I have a friend who is trying to breed a miniature version of them.
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People who count their chickens before they are hatched, act very wisely, because chickens run about so absurdly that it is impossible to count them accurately. - Oscar Wilde, 1854 - 1900
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09/06/07, 07:12 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Indiana
Posts: 100
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Not sure, but I think that Watusi and Ankole are separate breeds. I've seen photos of cattle that were called Ankole / Watusi crossbreds so I assume they are separate. Ankole are beautiful cattle- have a photo:
Last edited by Sunraven; 09/06/07 at 07:14 PM.
Reason: picture
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09/06/07, 08:02 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Idaho
Posts: 4,332
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by donsgal
I can't imagine what one would be doing in the middle of the Ozarks, LOL. I guess they must have picked it up at an auction and maybe didn't know what to expect (it didn't have horns when they first got it!).
donsgal
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Give the owner a little credit. I doubt he is an idiot. People search out different breeds of dogs and chickens, why not cattle?
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09/07/07, 05:55 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: South Texas
Posts: 948
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From what I have read, they are native to very hot areas and the horns are like that to cool the animal (blood in the horns cool off).
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09/09/07, 11:58 AM
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 5,900
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Unbelievable! We actually saw one of these at the livestock auction yesterday! His horns had been cut off to about 8 inches on each side, but were huge at the base. My husband thought it was some type of mutant steer! Not really large bodied, tho. Jan in Co
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09/09/07, 12:02 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Eureka, California area
Posts: 2,642
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My husband refused to believe the Watusi photo posted above; he says that it must be photo-shopped...he is totally serious! I tried to show him other web sites but none show the horns like above...the rest look like ankolewatusi crosses?
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Joan Crandell
Wild Iris Farm
"Fair"- the other 4 letter F word." This epiphany came after almost 10 days straight at our county fair.
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09/09/07, 12:41 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: California Zone 9b
Posts: 162
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The Ankol-Watusi are the same breed but just come from different parts of Africa
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09/09/07, 01:01 PM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Southeast Ohio
Posts: 1,429
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jcran
My husband refused to believe the Watusi photo posted above; he says that it must be photo-shopped...he is totally serious! I tried to show him other web sites but none show the horns like above...the rest look like ankolewatusi crosses?
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Take a look at the younger bulls on this website. http://www.texaslonghorn.net/invento...fm?BreedCode=W The horns are quite barrel shaped in the younger animals, like in the photo your husband thinks is photoshopped.
Here's another photo with the really thick horn base: http://www.texaslonghorn.net/invento...hibition_Steer
Lynda
Last edited by lgslgs; 09/09/07 at 01:04 PM.
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09/09/07, 11:27 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Kansas
Posts: 1,802
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There's a couple locally that raises them and our neighbor has about 5. They're really interesting! Back a few years ago when I used to walk in the evenings I was even sorta chased by one of the cows ... I'm wise enough to get out of the pasture when horns like that are headed my way! lol
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09/10/07, 01:44 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: North Central Idaho, Zone 5
Posts: 501
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Those are the strangest looking cattle I've ever seen!!! They aren't good looking at all, and in fact, the horns look way out of proportion to the animal's size. They're for the American "bigger is better" crowd, even though they may serve no useful purpose here.
Last edited by JulieLou42; 09/12/07 at 10:15 PM.
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09/10/07, 11:50 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Indiana
Posts: 100
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I don't think these breeds have the huge horns because of aesthetics- they're African breeds of cattle, created to tolerate extreme heat.
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09/10/07, 11:56 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,370
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Serve no useful purpose?
Um, don't they have huge apex predators in Africa? I'd want big horns myself! Long enough to keep a lion out of paw's reach. lol I wonder if the herds have the circling behavior of other herd animals - with young in the center and horns pointing outwards?
Cooling systems are good too.
Niki
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