Barzona

The development of the Barzona began in 1942 by Francis Bard and his wife at their ranch in the intermountain desert area of Yavapai County, Arizona. They hoped to develop a breed that would be adapted to their area which was rugged and rocky, with extreme temperatures, sparse rainfall, and scattered feed. Bard said, "I want to find a breed or make a breed of cattle, that with the same number, on the same range, will produce more pounds of salable beef."

In 1946, E.S. "Jack" Humphrey joined with the Bard's and took over the management of the breeding operations. He combined the genetics of the Africander, Hereford, Angus and Santa Gertrudis.

Africander bulls were bred to Hereford cows, they wanted the Hereford for early maturity, good hindquarters, close sheath and range ability, Angus for carcass and marbling characteristics, small calf at birth followed by rich milk and good hind. The Africander for good milk production, ability for high browse utilisation, small calf at birth, hide, pigment and hair coat for heat and insect tolerance, close sheath, body depth and genes for marbling without excessive backfat.
Santa Gertrudis bulls with "the Shorthorn factor," were also used because it was felt that three-eighths Brahma blood in the Santa Gertrudis was good from the standpoint of browse utilisation, hair and hide, small calf at birth and good milking ability. This basically completed the infusion of blood into the genetic pool and the Barzona breed was slowly developed by the studies with careful, planned matings to blend these different breeds and fix the desired characteristics. No outside blood was added to the herd after 1955.    more...

Latest Barzona Breed News

Monday, January 11, 2010
COOL Violates International Trade Obligations
US - Mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL) violates the US international trade obligationS, the American Meat Institute...

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