Longevity: It is quite regular for a 15 year old cow to be sound mouthed healthy and fertile. Perhaps it is because they were developed in one of the most rugged and demanding areas of the country that Barzonas have proven themselves to be an exceptionally adaptable breed. When selecting bulls for breeding the cows should be hornless, age 3.5 years at least, and not less than 400 pounds in weight. BBAA CATTLE REGISTRY. Temperatures varied from the teens in the winter to over 115 degrees in the summer on the 400 square mile area. Barzona are generally orange-red, but color may vary from dark tolight The Barzona cattle are very hardy and active animals. Barzona cattle are easy to handle and have a gentle disposition. Our association feedlot test is specifically targeting feed efficiency as well as measuring 30 other marketable traits in market animals. The association holds its purpose on the promotion and exhibition of the breed, and is currently updating it's recommendations and rules for competition. It is distinguishable by its longish head and may be either horned As you can probably gather from the name, the breed got its start in Arizona and is still a major contributor to beef production in the United States. Are Barzona Cattle Good for Small-Scale Farming? Barzona cattle were bred to be exceptionally hardy, a characteristic that they get from the Africander genes. The large, long-framed animals are also very deep in the chest with a full double layer of thick muscle over the ribs. Barzona cattle are commonly found in the United States as a domestic breed. In general, Barzona cattle are cheaper to care for due to their feeding ability and they require less medical care due to their natural disease resistance. They make outstanding mother cows with minimal calving problems, no pinkeye or foot rot, are very resistant to insects and parasites, and do it all on sub-marginal pastures., Central Arizona Feedlot Operator: The cattle gain well and convert their feed better than most breeds. Wanted from the Africander were good milk production, ability for high browse utilization, small calf at birth, hide, pigment and hair coat for heat and insect tolerance, close sheath, body depth and genes for marbling without excessive back fat. This cattle-related article is a stub. They are, in approximately equal proportions, a combination of Africander, Hereford, Beef Shorthorn and Angus. They have a high percentage of lean and the meat is very tender. } Optimum genetic size allows them to finish at a market weight desired most by the packer and consumer, with less time on feed. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barzona&oldid=1052683378, Cattle breeds originating in the United States, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 30 October 2021, at 15:26. A Barzona bull will keep his cows gathered in a tight group. The ruminant digestive tract and the ruminant stomach are shown in Figure 1. . Shorthorn nad Angus breeds. Cows stay in production upwards of 15-20 years. The ranch was sold and the herd dispersed in 1974. The purebred operation requires more time, record keeping and initial input. get into rougher places. They occasionally have white on the underline or switch. Females enter estrus late and are slow to rebreed. Barzonas possess a high degree of herd instinct and are curious and intelligent, but quiet and easy to handle. Red in color varying from dark to light red, with occasional white on the underline or switch. The two fundamental categories of beef cattle operations are purebred and commercial. Francis Norwood Bard purchased a load of Santa Gertrudis and Africander bulls which he planned to breed with purebred Hereford cows that he had purchased as well. Bard Cattle Company has raised and marketed Foundation Barzona Cattle since 1974. The calves of this breed require more time to wean, but the mothers are easy calvers. This has resulted in the loss of too many calves from the herd over the years. The only disadvantage associated with them is recognition. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to leave them below. They have very hardy and strong feet and legs which are very suitable for browsing tough conditions. In the South they utilize the native browse to maximum advantage and have proven highly resistant to the onslaught of insects, parasites and hot temperatures. It was felt that three-eighths Brahma blood in the Santa Gertrudis was good from the standpoint of browse utilization, hair and hide, small calf at birth and good milking ability. Bard and Humphrey determined that for cattle to cope with this environment they had to be of a hardy nature, able to take care of themselves and that certain characteristics were needed: natural fertility, good mothering instinct, milking ability, aggressive breeding habits, feet and legs to handle tough country, ability to utilize excess of browse, wild type grazing habits, easy calving, heat tolerance, insect tolerance, medium size with the conformation of a profitable beef animal. . Follow us on. They are also highly adaptable to their environments. They are medium to large, long-framed, low-set to the ground beef animal that is deep in the chest with a full double layer of thick muscle over the ribs. They are generally orange-red in color, but their body color may vary from dark red to light red. The type and color of the cow will determine the bull to be chosen for breeding purposes. Grazing involves the cattle feeding on low-growing vegetation, while browsing involves feeding on high-growing vegetation. They were bred to have this ability in order to survive in the higher elevations of Arizona, but it now enables them to live in a much larger area than what was originally intended. It is a perfect combination of four different cattle breeds i.e. New Exotic Animals 101 - First-Time Exotic Pet Owners Guide Out NOW! They have very hardy and strong feet and legs which are very suitable for browsing tough conditions. var rect = adElemSticky.getBoundingClientRect();
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We are pleased to give you instant access to valuable information about the Barzona breed and its composites. There is a tendency for the calves born from Barzona cattle to grow slowly but fatten quickly after weaning. In Germany it comes from the regions of Westfalia, Rhineland and Schleswig Holstein, and is known there as the Rotbunt. A native African breed, the Africander dates back to However, their actual size will vary depending on their environment. to the north and southeast. They are well adapted to their native climates. adElem.style.zIndex = ''; Bard, in correspondence with the author ofModern Breeds of Livestock, indicates that They are very efficient in the feedlot and several meat packers have told me they do everything expected of them and then some., New Mexico: These bulls really cover the country and get our cows bred better than any bulls weve ever had. The Africander were used for their ability for high browse utilization, good milk production, hide, pigment, relatively small calf and hair coat for heat and insect tolerance. The performance in the feedlot and on slaughter tests have also been satisfactory. was moved to that ranch. These cattle can easily live in rocky areas and can survive on scattered feed. A native African breed, the Africander dates back to the 15th century. As increasing numbers of cattlemen were becoming interested in having purebred herds, the need for a breed association was apparent. Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. well under such environments. The bulls are very hardy and vigorous, exemplifying high libido. considering rate of gain and mothering ability. They started with the premise that cattle and the traits that allow them to survive and produce marketable beef on a regular and profitable basis, must match or be compatible with their environment. It debuted in 1968 and has since been exported around the world, particularly to other western countries. Barzona cattle are great for small-scale farming due to being a fairly low-maintenance breed. Barzona cattle are a composite breed of Afrikaner, Hereford, and Santa Gertrudes beef cattle which was developed in the high desert, inter-mountain region of Arizona in the 1920s and 1930s. records were used back in the breeding program. Currently, the market for Barzona cattle runs with standard prices in the industry for purebred seedstock. [1] They are, in approximately equal proportions, a combination of Africander, Hereford, Beef Shorthorn and Angus. Have to be 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Hereford to be . Your email address will not be published. The carcass is muscular and well-marbled with a high ratio of lean to fat, and high cutability. Production records were maintained and a rigid selection was carried out for fertility But thanks to the Angus genes in them, Barzona cattle also have the ability to grow thicker hair during the colder months and when living in colder climates. Due to their breeding, theyre able to convert feed into red meat efficiently. Left: Bard Cattle Company cow and calf. (vitag.Init = window.vitag.Init || []).push(function () { viAPItag.display("vi_1472596215") }),
You might also enjoy: Is The Use Of Crossbred & Composite Bulls Is Catching On? They have very good temperament and are relatively very easy to handle. Africander bulls were bred to Hereford cows. PetKeen.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. The commercial operation is generally a lower-input, lower-risk type of venture. Barzona cattle are a breed of beef cattle raised for meat in the state of California. It debuted in 1968 and has since been exported around the world, particularly to other western countries. Also, the soil tends to compact in some areas and manure and urine is not deposited evenly, meaning some areas are over-fertilized and some areas are under-fertilized. These cattle are very profitable in terms of meat, dairy, and fertility. Barzona Breeder Association of AmericaBox 631Prescott, AZ 86302Phone: (602) 445-5150, Briggs, H.M. & D.M. The best cattle in the developing breed were moved to Bard Kirkland Ranch in 1948, and in 1959 the entire operation was moved to that ranch. Your email address will not be published. Search our database of over 12264 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. Starting in the mountain and desert regions, this hardy breed has moved across the country, from the snows of the Northwest to the grasslands of the Midwest, to the swamps of the Southeast.Cattlemen in the desert regions of the West like their ability to travel great distances from water and survive on rough, lowly palatable forages. The cattle are high quality with a focus on longevity, high fertility, and calm demeanor. Alvin & Karen strive to keep their herd producing under worry free management. Barzona. Right: Barzona breeding program bull, Mississippi State University 1980. Traits you can't get anywhere else. Barzona cows are considered good mothers and the bulls Female Barzona cattle are very fertile and can birth calves as young as two years old. Currently the breed is found and produced mainly in the United States. During recent severe drought, they stayed in good shape while our native cattle got poor. The Barzona is distinguishable by its longish head and may be either horned or polled. They also calve easily due to the natural shape of the calves as well as their low birth weight compared to other cattle breeds. They decided that no single existing breed would be able to do the necessary job for them and that they could only develop the desired characteristics through careful blending of genes from several breeds. Alvin was too busy for babysitting heavy calvers and pinkeye. So they cannot be easily bred in hot weather. Barzonas excel in feedlot performance due to a bred-in ability to convert feed efficiently into red meat. Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! The Barzona cattle are very hardy and active animals. In addition, information from the registry states that pinkeye and cancer Measuring vigor Colostrum intake and mothering ability A calf's entire immune system comes from passive transfer via colostrum intake. if (width <= 900) { Francis Bard passed away in Wickenburg, Arizona, in January 1970. Copyright (c) 2017 BARZONA BREEDERS ASSOCIATION. Publishing Co. 1980, Promotional materials. Arizona: Ive never seen any cattle with Brahman in them that mature as early or are as naturally fertile as these red cows., Texas: The Barzonas have excellent heat tolerance, no foot rot, and flourish on grass-pasture type operations., California: Our Barzona and Barzona crosses really utilize our range. Barzona cattle have excellent body capacity and smooth lines throughout. They are raised mainly for meat production. In 1946, E.S. The Barzona Breeders Association of America is non-profit organization established in 1968 to serve its growing number of breeders. Pet Keen is reader-supported. The skin on a Barzona is clear and tight. Theyll live for a long time due to their hardiness, and will produce lots of calves as well as high-quality beef when the time is right. It is known for feet and legs built to handle rough country, an the body of a Barzona is strong, sturdy, and well proportioned. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. proportions. Today, Barzona cattle still make a large contribution to Americas beef industry. eye are almost nonexistent in the breed due to their dark pigmentation and deeper adElem.style.top = '10px'; Savanna is a former science teacher who is now a full-time freelance writer. Originated in Kirkland, Arizona. } Alvin & Karen Havens started their herd in 1989. He worked with Elliot S. Humphrey to start his breeding program, and together they decided that they needed a breed that could withstand extremely hot spells and periods of drought, but also wet periods and cold and snowy spells in the more mountainous regions. The breed is also well adapted to the rugged and rocky area, do well in extreme temperatures and sparse rainfall and also can do well in scattered feed. window.onscroll = function () {
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