Cold Copper Cattle Co. LLC – Raising Texas Longhorns, the new luxury beef, on 300 acres in Burnet, Texas

By Texas Hill Country | February 23, 2025

 

By J Carol Richards

The United States is the world’s largest beef consumer and the world’s largest beef producer. Texas, with approximately 4.3 million cows, has the largest number of beef cows. Most consumers purchase their meats in the local grocery store, with a small number buying from specialized markets and even fewer directly from a cattle ranch. The journey of the average cow from birth to the table varies depending on how they are fed and where they begin life. Due to the high demand for beef, most beef cattle in the United States are grain-fed on large ranches before being shipped to feedlots, where they may spend six months or more being fattened before slaughter. Cold Copper Cattle Co. LLC is a new breed of ranchers that is re-introducing pasture-finished beef, uniquely the Texas Longhorn. It was sometime during the 1950s that cattle ranchers began utilizing grain to fatten cows quicker to meet the growing demands. With many things, sometimes the old ways prove better once we have exhausted all the options. Grain feeding certainly increased production; however, studies are beginning to show that grass-fed cows and pasture-finished beef have some clear-cut advantages over traditional grain-fed meat. One of the major arguments is that grass-finished beef contains more nutrients, healthy fatty acids, and antioxidants like quercetin, known for reducing inflammation. In addition, some commercial grains contain antibiotics that, at high levels, may contribute to the risk of antibiotic resistance in humans.

Cold Copper Ranch is exclusively dedicated to breeding the Texas Long Horn. It is a 300-acre paradise for the cows who, like the early Texas herds, roam free from pasture to pasture, feeding on native plants and shrubberies that longhorns can easily digest. Cold Copper Ranch is a postcard picture of the Texas Hill Country with stands of gnarly native oaks, grasses, and meadowlands. For the Smith family, Mike, Kali, and their daughters Samantha and Jacee, it is a heritage that began in 2018 when they purchased the last seven heifers from Kali’s retiring father. Growing up in Kansas, they were not often exposed to the majestic longhorn, but after moving to Texas in 2007, they fell in love and now have at least a hundred heads at Cold Copper Ranch and more at their ranch in Lampasas. The family has a fascination and respect for these stately animals that have increased and evolved into a business venture that seeks to educate the consumer regarding the benefits of pasture-finished longhorn beef. The Smiths also own Cold Copper Commodities feed store in Burnet, where you can purchase a variety of your favorite cuts of longhorn grass-fed beef. On average, longhorn beef contains less saturated fat and is surprisingly leaner than skinned, boneless white chicken. In addition, grass-fed longhorn beef is heart-healthy and may aid in lowering harmful LDL cholesterol levels due to higher levels of Omega fatty acids. Apart from the health benefits, longhorn beef has a rich, unique flavor that some consider to be the next high-demand luxury beef.

For Mike and Kali Smith, Cold Copper Cattle Ranch is preserving a way of life they hope to pass on to their children and grandchildren one day. Although a herd of cattle may look the same to the untrained eye, it is impossible to look at a herd of longhorns and not be captivated by the diverse coloring, and for Mike and Kali, each has a unique personality. Every longhorn has a different name. For example, one of the bulls is Delta Lucky Ace, and one of the cows is Dunn Lucky Dice, who even has a song written for her from a group called Family Shiloh that can be accessed on YouTube or Spotify. Cold Copper Cattle Ranch is also home to Sweet Maxi, who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest tip-to-tip horns in the world.

The Smith family invites you to visit Cold Copper Commodities, their feed store in Burnet, which is as unique as the cattle ranch. Shop for a cut of longhorn beef and find out for yourself why it may become a new way to enjoy beef.

Burnet, Texas www.coldcopperranch.com