Watusi Steer Brings In Crowds

2017 - Volume #41, Issue #6, Page #07

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Vincent Browning and Michelle Lumpkin of Liberty, Texas have created a profitable sideline business by traveling around with their rare Watusi steer, Oliver, for the past 8 years.
  Watusi (also known as Ankole-Watusi) cattle are prized for their huge horns. Approximately 1,500 Watusi cattle are found outside of Africa, with about 80 percent of those in the U.S.
  Oliver is 12 years old and weighs a little over 1,600 lbs. His horns measure 26.5 in. in circumference (at the base). Each horn is over 3 ft. long and they span almost 6 ft. from tip to tip. Due to Oliver’s gentle nature, he’s fully trained to ride under saddle and responds to a bridle with a modified hackamore, according to Browning.
  “I first started halter breaking him when he was 6 mos. old, and then saddle broke him at 2 years of age,” he explains. “I just put a regular roping saddle on him and ride him like a horse. He also lets me trim his hooves just like a horse.”
  Browning’s steer training skills go back a long way: “In high school, I showed cattle in FFA and 4-H. Then I worked as a professional bull rider,” he explains. “For a while, I also had a Brahman bull I could ride. Later, I worked with a guy who had Watusi cattle, and that’s where I got my first calf.”
  With Oliver’s combination of impressive looks and cooperative nature, he’s an attraction that people pay to have at their parades, rodeos, barbecues, and parties, among other events.
  In addition to the fee that Browning and Lumpkin charge to attend the various events, they also earn income from the photo sessions with individuals in attendance. They simply set up a small pen where people can sit on Oliver and have their photo taken. The couple charges $10 for a 4 by 6-in. photo, or $15 for an 8 by10-in. print (which are printed on the spot). In all, “Oliver, the African Watusi” earns an average of about $200 a day profit. They attend 25 to 30 events per year.    The couple set up a Facebook page two years ago, where they share pictures, videos and information about Oliver. They already have 18,702 page likes and say that they get a lot of general questions about the breed.
  The couple have 12 head of Watusi on their ranch and say that weaned calves sell for $1,500 to $2,000. Browning also has a Longhorn steer (bought as a calf at a sale) that he’s training to ride as well. It’s named “Tyson,” he’s 2 yrs. old, and is still in training.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Vincent Browning, Triangle B Watusi Ranch & Farm, 637 FM 2830 Road South, Liberty, Texas 77575 (ph 936 641-2596, Triangleb2002@gmail.com; https://www.facebook.com/TriangleBOliver/).

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Watusi Steer Brings In Crowds LIVESTOCK Beef Vincent Browning and Michelle Lumpkin of Liberty Texas have created a profitable sideline business by traveling around with their rare Watusi steer Oliver for the past 8 years Watusi also known as Ankole-Watusi cattle are prized for their huge horns Approximately 1 500 Watusi cattle are found outside of Africa with about 80 percent of those in the U S Oliver is 12 years old and weighs a little over 1 600 lbs His horns measure 26 5 in in circumference at the base Each horn is over 3 ft long and they span almost 6 ft from tip to tip Due to Oliver’s gentle nature he’s fully trained to ride under saddle and responds to a bridle with a modified hackamore according to Browning “I first started halter breaking him when he was 6 mos old and then saddle broke him at 2 years of age ” he explains “I just put a regular roping saddle on him and ride him like a horse He also lets me trim his hooves just like a horse ” Browning’s steer training skills go back a long way: “In high school I showed cattle in FFA and 4-H Then I worked as a professional bull rider ” he explains “For a while I also had a Brahman bull I could ride Later I worked with a guy who had Watusi cattle and that’s where I got my first calf ” With Oliver’s combination of impressive looks and cooperative nature he’s an attraction that people pay to have at their parades rodeos barbecues and parties among other events In addition to the fee that Browning and Lumpkin charge to attend the various events they also earn income from the photo sessions with individuals in attendance They simply set up a small pen where people can sit on Oliver and have their photo taken The couple charges $10 for a 4 by 6-in photo or $15 for an 8 by10-in print which are printed on the spot In all “Oliver the African Watusi” earns an average of about $200 a day profit They attend 25 to 30 events per year The couple set up a Facebook page two years ago where they share pictures videos and information about Oliver They already have 18 702 page likes and say that they get a lot of general questions about the breed The couple have 12 head of Watusi on their ranch and say that weaned calves sell for $1 500 to $2 000 Browning also has a Longhorn steer bought as a calf at a sale that he’s training to ride as well It’s named “Tyson ” he’s 2 yrs old and is still in training Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Vincent Browning Triangle B Watusi Ranch & Farm 637 FM 2830 Road South Liberty Texas 77575 ph 936 641-2596 Triangleb2002@gmail com; https://www facebook com/TriangleBOliver/

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