W OR TH THE DRIVE
Ann Marie Kennon • annmarie@myjarrell.com photos courtesy of Keith Hagler and Hagler Ranch
Make the Trip for Hagler Ranch Longhorn Beef
I F I T ’ S N OT A LO N G H O R N I T ’ S J U S T A CO W. ~ K E I T H H A G L E R
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hose who live outside Taylor may not know the Hagler family yet, but everyone needs to visit Keith Hagler’s offices before dinner. In short, if you already have an appreciation for Texas Longhorns, you are about to love them even more. Modern Longhorn cattle, once numbering in the millions, have been a part of Texas culture since the 19th century, and Keith has always had a special interest in them because of their gentle nature and beautiful colors. “Longhorns are very Texan. People don’t stop on the side of the road to take selfies with regular cows. I got into breeding and ranching as a hobby, but I enjoy the people who raise them so it’s a great business too.”
WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE? Keith’s ranch is in Taylor and he sells Longhorn beef directly from the freezers in his Taylor office. “Our cattle are registered, and they are all grass-fed within 20 miles of here.” He explains Longhorns are very self-sufficient and eat most anything. “They get plenty of rich grass but are also happy to forage for things other cows won’t touch. They tend to clean up a pasture, which enables it to grow back healthier. Plus, while they are very gentle with people, rare is the coyote or wild hog that will mess with an animal their size with horns just as large.”
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F E B R UA R Y 2021 M Y JA R R ELL M O NT HLY
In addition to selling the beef, Hagler Ranch also auctions and sells Longhorns to allow others to enjoy owning their own for Ag exemptions, or hobby farming. “They calf easily and are virtually maintenance free. I also love how unique they are; you can put a black bull and with black cow and they will produce a red and white calf—each as different as a fingerprint.” At press time, Keith is looking forward to the Fort Worth Cowtown Classic auction. He has three cattle registered, complete with bloodlines and histories, ready for breeding anywhere in the country. “It is all about genetics, and I have a consultant who assists me with bulls and cows to create the best pairings. For many generations, we have tried to grow the standard size, measured ‘tip-to-tip’ of the horns. A century ago, a large Longhorn was 60 inches. Today, breeding with different bulls, the standard is 70-80 inches and it’s not unusual to have a 90-inch animal. Outside of the beef business, we sell re-purposed skulls to those who use them for decoration, and even the skins find use. We respect what these animals give to us and do not take their lives for granted.” Hagler Ranch also has a heifer in the NASA Longhorn program. Within sight of the Space Shuttle, a small Longhorn show team provides educational opportunities for local high school students. The Ranch pays the fees for students to exhibit his animal several times a year and, while the heifer goes back at the end of the year, Mr. Hagler gives the team a new one to continue their work in husbandry and ranching.
