Barzona
(most common name)

The Barzona originated during 1945–1968 at the Bard-Kirkland Ranch in Arizona.

In 1940, F. N. Bard started creating the foundation Barzona herd in the following manner:

• First, Santa Gertrudis and Afrikaner bulls from the King Ranch were crossed with his ‘local’ cows (which had originated from a trainload of Mexican steers in 1937).
• Then, Bard purchased a herd of purebred (but unregistered) Hereford cows and introduced six additional Afrikaner sires into it.
• Finally, the best females from Bard’s first Santa Gertrudis and Afrikaner crosses were then added into his Hereford herd.

Elliot S. Humphrey later became herd manager and he added Angus blood, using a Brahman × Angus bull, to further the goal of making the Barzona into a commercial beef breed with high ‘rangeability’.

The Barzona herd was then closed in 1955 and inter se breeding commenced. Selection was made for:
• beef production
• heat and tick resistance
• fertility
• ease of calving
• durable feet and legs
• ease of walking
• ability to graze sparse ranges
• tolerance to drought conditions

The Barzona was fixed at:
25% Afrikaner
25% Hereford
20.8% Shorthorn
16.7% Angus
12.5% zebu

Barzona population numbers appear to be dwindling. In 2018, the maximum count was 450 in the USA, compared with 1,300 in 1990.

This page was last updated on: 2023-05-14

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