Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry

Minutes from Board of Directors’ meeting July 18, 2009

Fort Griffin State Historic Site

Board members present: Fred Balmer, Debbie Davis, Don Davis, Sonny Detmer, Frank Sharp, Monroe Sullivan; Emeritus: Alice & Shelby King

Guests: Tracy Salmon, Carol & Jim Dildine, Reneé & Sonny Ray Smith, Brady Sullivan, Debbie Sullivan, Bill & Toy Lotz, Marijo Balmer, Kristine & Leslie Newcomb, Tom B. Saunders and daughter Amy, Lynn Bullard & family, Bill Guffy, Will Craddock, and Kurt Kemp.

Also in attendance of the inspection of Ft. Griffin herd prior to the meeting were: Michael Bunker and daughter Tracy, David Sifford, Prices, Wayland Jackson, B.J. and Marianne Rankin, Judy Spivey Louise Sharp and Belinda Salmon.

Call to Order

CTLR President Sonny Detmer opened the meeting at 2:30.

Accept Minutes

Fred Balmer made a motion that was seconded by Alice King, to accept as written the minutes from the annual meeting February 21, 2009. The motion passed.

Sonny D. mentioned the State Herd of Texas is using three CTLR bulls and want to continue using CTLR bulls in the future. He made a request of the Registrar to identify eligible bulls within the registry whose owners could be contacted about potential future loans.

Treasurers Report

Shelby King delivered the Treasurer’s Report itemizing income of $1094 and expenses of $870.21 with a bank balance of $25,569.45.

Registrars Report

Debbie Davis gave the Registrar’s report stating 125 animals had been registered in 2009. Five new members were presented for approval:

Jack Askins, MD and wife Marilyn from Wichita Falls sponsored by Davis

William Lotz from Katy sponsored by Sharp

Bruce and Beth Anderson from Boerne sponsored by Davis

Lynn & Cindi Price from Hillsboro sponsored by Davis

Sammy & Helen Overton sponsored by Sharp

Science Curriculum

Kristy Newcomb gave a report on the elementary and middle school Science Curriculum she is putting together for Texas public schools that includes the study of Texas Longhorn genetics in comparison with traits of polled Herefords and looks at how different biomes influence natural selection and evolutionary differences between these breeds of Spanish descent: Chinampo Cattle, Texas Longhorns and Florida Cracker Cattle. Debbie Davis expressed disappointment with Rep. Doug Miller’s inaction at a request to introduce to the 2009 Legislature a Texas Longhorn history curriculum that would carry Maudeen Mark’s name in memoriam. Because the Texas Legislature only meets every-other-year, The CTLR has plenty of time to perfect the science and history curriculums, gather all audio and visual education aids in preparation for requesting the 2011 Legislature adopt a new history curriculum. Rep. Tracy King has said he is glad to participate in any effort to further the issue of the history curriculum and honoring Maudeen Marks by dedicating it to her memory. Kristine asked if there are any teachers among the CTLR membership to please offer their comments on the work in progress.

Breed Standards

Frank Sharp commented on the Breed Standards that Will Craddock and Bill Guffy with the Texas State Herd have offered to contribute ideas, historical photos and written documents toward completion of the standards of which they need for their selection process.

Big Bend Ranch State Park

Monroe “Bubba” Sullivan reported that the Big Bend Ranch State Park has culled their herd to 50 cows, 4 or 5 bulls and 10 steers. They did not cull any of their 2008-9 heifer crop. They indicated their desire to return to a 100% CTLR registered herd. There remain 13 CTLR registered cows in the herd. It was suggested they pair the heifers with their dams and submit application for registration of the heifers belonging to registered dams. All of the multiple sires in the herd are registered. By keeping only subsequently registered heifers eventually the herd will all be registered as old unregistered cows are replaced. When a DNA test is available to detect evidence of impurity, unregistered cattle may be submitted for approval.

Land Heritage Institute

Sonny D. reported the Land Heritage Institute (LHI) now has 5 calves in their Fayette Yates Memorial Herd. One bull calf is sired by their CTLR bull Freckle’s Freedom and the other 4 calves were sired by CTLR registered WR 1572 “Cowboy.” LHI is acquiring funds from the City of San Antonio and State of Texas. They need money to build fence on the property to accommodate a public herd of CTLR cattle. At a recent meeting of museum professionals it was noted by LHI that the distinction between CTLR historically correct cattle is understood by others in the museum and history industry.

State Longhorn Herd of Texas

Will Craddock gave a brief history of the State Herd of Texas and how it came to be at Fort Griffin State Historic Site. Will began his position as Herd Manager in March 2009 and Bill Guffy oversees the portion of the State Herd that resides at San Angelo State Park. Their desire is to preserve historically correct cattle in keeping with the goals when the herd was established in the 1930’s. The current population consists of 31 cows and 14 heifers at Ft. Griffin with a goal of maintaining a herd of 35 animals. San Angelo has two groups of cattle totaling 30-35 head each plus an additional 60 steers. The State Herd currently does not own any bulls and is using CTLR registered bulls on season loan. They plan to sell their yearly calf crop.

DNA

Debbie Davis reported progress is being made toward development of a DNA test for evidence of impurity. Working under the supervision of Alfred W. Roark Centennial Professor David Hillis, Ph.D., Emily McTavish, Graduate student in Ecology Evolution Behavior, Section of Integrative Biology at the University of Texas at Austin took this project as her summer research fellowship. She is attempting to integrate data across platforms (Illumina 50K data with Bovine Genome Project HapMap data with USDA MARC data). She hopes to acquire 50K data from other breeds to use for comparison with longhorn data. Using the data analysis software Structure, she is hopeful to discover breed specific markers in bovine DNA by the end of the summer. The Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Conservancy is funding this project. Expenses to date include $2365 for GeneSeek for twelve 50K chip runs of longhorn DNA and $10,000 to the University of Texas for Emily’s services.

Inspectors Training

Sonny D. discussed the development of an Inspectors’ Training Manual. Debbie Davis motioned and Debbie Sullivan seconded that all inspectors’ training sessions be in person viewing cattle on the hoof. The motion carried. Don Davis made a second motion, seconded by Sonny Ray that Minutes from previous meetings be researched to identify CTLR procedures for inspector training and add to them as required. This motion also passed. A third motion was made by Jim Dildine and seconded by Marijo Balmer that a designation of “Junior Inspector” be awarded to persons completing three inspectors’ training sessions. This motion also passed. The Board of Directors appoints individuals as “Senior Inspectors” when they have exhibited qualification. In addition to the three required inspectors training sessions, Junior Inspectors may participate in one-on-one training discussions with Senior Inspectors in person or by photo and attend inspections with Senior Inspectors to gain skills necessary for CTLR Inspectors. Alice King made a motion that Billy Jack Rankin and Monroe “Bubba” Sullivan be named CTLR Senior Inspectors. The motion was seconded by Debbie Davis and unanimously approved.

Board Policy

Debbie Davis read wording for board policy in selection of animals for public herds. Debbie Sullivan motioned to accept the policy and Sonny Ray seconded. The motion carried.

New Business

Frank Sharp introduced Tom B. Saunders from the Doss Heritage and Cultural Center whom shared a colorful history of Parker County including Oliver Loving and Charles Goodnight and the connection with Texas Longhorn cattle. Frank discussed collaboration between the Doss Center and the CTLR in exhibits and videos.

Debbie Davis gave a brief history of a Board vote in 2001 not to accept the donation of a bank of longhorn semen from Yates bulls that lived before the CTLR was formed. The board did not feel they should endorse the use of unregistered bulls. Discussion then turned to the list of semen owned by Rita Yates collected from eleven bulls that is advertised on the CTLR website for sale to CTLR members. Five of these bulls are not CTLR registered because they died before the CTLR was formed. Because we do not currently have a DNA test for evidence of impurity, we cannot register any A.I. calves. For these reasons, the Board decided it is time to remove the semen list from the CTLR website. As a courtesy to Rita, it has been advertised free of charge since Fayette’s death in 2007.

Don Davis motioned that John L. Guldemann be named Director Emeritus at the next annual meeting of the membership. This motion was seconded by Fred Balmer and passed.

Bubba Sullivan showed a quality video made by McRae Entertainment / Running G Productions of the Wallace Round-up filmed June 13, 2009. Discussion followed of development of a CTLR promotional video versus a CTLC educational video. Doss Center, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Ft. Griffin Historic site and other public venues have indicated a desire to distribute such an educational product. It was agreed the CTLC should provide Marc McWilliams with all the raw footage from documentary video shot for the documentary including interviews of Enrique Guerra, Fayette Yates, Maudeen Marks and Lawrence Wallace and shots of their herds and family photos, so all can be digitized and stored on a hard drive. It was agreed boards of the registry and Conservancy would discuss further financing a short video for distribution that could also be used for grant applications to complete the one-hour PBS-quality documentary.

Sonny D. said the next annual meeting will be held in San Antonio on Saturday, March 6, 2010 as not to conflict with the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering February 26-28 in Alpine, TX. The Doss Center in Weatherford was also mentioned as a potential location for a CTLR event.

The meeting was adjourned.