Barzona-Bulletin-Spring-2026

www.Barzona.org

Spring 2026

Barzona Bulletin

Adaptable • Sustainable • Profitable

A Publication of the Barzona Breeders Association of America

New World Screwworm Implications for Producers

Matt Hille, DVM, Ph.D., DACVP | Veterinary Diagnostic Pathologist and Extension Veterinarian, University of Nebraska-Lincoln I n recent years, confirmed cases of New World screwworm (NWS) in cattle have spread from Panama northward to with in approximately 100 miles of the southern U.S. border. The threat of NWS is not new to the United States, although it may feel that way to some since it has been 60 years since the fly was officially eradicated. Thankfully, the successful eradica tion campaign carried out in the 1960s will serve as the blue print for managing the current threat. mature, the larvae drop to the ground to pupate and eventually emerge as adult flies. Under ideal conditions (around 80° F), the insect’s lifecycle can be completed in a few as 21 days. Female flies mate only once but may lay eggs two or three times in her life, depositing several hundred eggs per batch, allowing for rapid population

growth. Reproduction can occur between 65° F and 91° F, though the lifecycle is prolonged outside the optimal tempera ture. Sustained soil temperatures of 46° F or cooler are lethal to larvae and pupae. This suggests reproduction could occur from late spring through early fall, but successful overwinter ing of the fly population would be extremely unlikely. The larval stage causes disease and represents the great est concern for livestock. Feeding larvae will burrow deep into tissue – hence the name “screwworm,” which can lead

NWS Biology and Disease Risk in Cattle Adult NWS flies lay eggs in open wounds or on mucous membranes of warm-blooded animals. Livestock and wildlife are most commonly affected, but pets, birds and occasionally humans can also serve as hosts. After hatching, larvae (i.e., maggots) feed on living tissue of a susceptible host. Once

to extensive tissue destruction and allow for secondary bacterial infections, septicemia and even death. Mortalities from NWS are not uncommon, especially in untreated cases. Even animals that survive may suffer reduced performance leading to indirect economic losses. The umbilicus of newborn calves is a common site for NWS to lay eggs, but even much smaller wounds from syringe needles, implant guns or tick bites can suffice. Eradication: Then and Now In the 1960s, male flies were mass reared, sterilized and released into and adjacent to infested areas, a strategy termed sterile insect technique (SIT). Because female flies mate only once, those that mated with sterile males produce no viable offspring, although they Continued on page 2 ›

From Our Association Secretary

New World Screwworm Continued from page 1

will still lay eggs. Over time, the relentless release of hundreds of millions of sterile flies eliminated the wild population in the United States. Strict control of livestock movement from af fected areas and visual animal inspection played a large role in limiting geographic spread, as the transport of infested animals to unaffected areas poses significant risk. Surveillance for adult flies using traps and/or bait was also a critical component to eradication. Early detection of adult flies in areas previously unaffected allowed for the targeted release of sterile flies before widespread infestation of livestock. In many ways, today’s response efforts mirror the 1960s campaign. However, the current sterile fly production capac ity is approximately 100 million flies per week – less than 20 percent of what officials estimate to be the current need. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has unveiled plans to expand production and distribution, but a meaningful increase in the number of available sterile flies is not expected until 2027. To reduce the risk of importing NWS, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins closed the southern U.S. border to animal movement in May 2025, and it remains closed. Officials in Mexico and the southern U.S. states have expanded sur veillance to guide strategic sterile fly placement, something particularly important given the current limited supply. To date, there have been no confirmed U.S. cases of NWS identified from the outbreak in Central America, although the sterile fly release perimeter was recently expanded to include parts of extreme southern Texas. Bottom Line for Producers • Historically proven eradication methods are being pursued to combat the NWS threat, including sterile fly production and release as well as enhanced surveillance programs. • Many climate could support NWS reproduction during the warmer months, but NWS overwintering is not a realistic threat. • Importing infested animals currently presents the greatest risk and strict adherence to animal movement regulations is essential. • Suspected cases of NWS in any species should be reported immediately to your veterinarian or state/federal officials. A key sign to look for are larvae feeding on living tissue. Note that larvae feeding on a dead carcass is not suggestive of NWS. • Additional

By Alecia Heinz, Golden Hz Farms, BBAA Secretary G reetings to everyone and best wishes for calving season! Here are a couple of reminders: 1. Please enter all cattle registrations and get them current. The BBAA has new owners who need their animals in their ownership in the system so they can start their own registrations. 2. The Barzona Breeders Association of America Annual Meet

ing is Sept. 17-19, 2026, in New Mexico. The website will be updated with more information as we get more details. Scan the QR code to learn more. Please register for the annual meeting, as the number of people attending may affect some of our options!

3. Rule changes are to be sent to me, via mail or email, 90 days before the annual meeting. Therefore, rule changes need to be postmarked or emailed no later than June 19, 2026, to be eligible. 4. Member billing statements and new membership packets will be coming out shortly. If you have any questions, please contact me at barzonabreeders@gmail.com . For Sale: bred heifers available in Iowa; bulls available in several locations. BB S ave T he D ate ! Barzona Breeders Association of America

Annual Meeting S ept . 17-19, 2026 A lamogordo , N ew M exico

resources containing more detailed information on the history, current out break status, clinical signs, and prevention or treatment of NWS can be found by scanning the QR codes or visiting these organization’s websites. BB

Hampton Cattle Company Breeding Purebred Barzona since 1973 Fertile Range Cattle Steve Hampton P.O. Box 134 • Kirkland, AZ 86332 (928) 899-4808

Nebraska Department of Agriculture

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Texas Animal Health Commission

COPEG

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side panels we designed with our veter inarian. This chute is portable so we can take it into the field if the cow isn’t coop erating. Although intervention is uncom mon, it’s necessary to have everything needed just in case for the continued health of the cow and calf. Although spring is on everyone’s mind, the Barzona Breeders Association of

President’s Message

Raising Quality Barzona Cattle for 46 Years. Bulls & Females Available 2-Year-Old Bulls Available Now F & F Cattle Company Ad Index Bard Cattle Co..................................................4 Carmichael Barzonas........................................4 F & F Cattle Company.......................................3 Golden Hz Farms..............................................3 Hampton Cattle Company................................2 Raymond Boykin, Jr...........................................4 America (BBAA) is already looking toward late summer and early fall for our BBAA Annual Meeting, Sept. 17-19. This year, we are traveling to New Mexico to Nash Stansfield’s ranch south of Alamogordo. The BBAA website will have the most current updates as we continue to develop the meeting sched ule and accommodations. Scan the QR code to learn more. We are looking forward to fellowship and the business of continu ing to grow and promote the Barzona breed. Adaptable, Sustainable, Profitable. BB

By Matthew Heinz, Golden Hz Farms, BBAA President W elcome to the spring Barzona Bulletin newsletter. Most years I would gladly announce spring is here. This year’s weather has been a little different. One day we’re experiencing snow and 9-degree tem peratures, and two days later it’s sunny and 70-plus degrees. Needless to say, our calves are in limbo, not knowing if they should slick out or hold their winter coats for a little longer. I can say the same case for the grass; it has started to come on, but we still have a lot of it that has chosen to stay dormant. Each year we’re faced with unique challenges across each region of the United States that continue to prove Barzona cattle thrive with each curve ball thrown at them. Here at Golden Hz Farms we have started taking a longer look at the first- and second-calf heifers to see if any of them are starting to bag up in preparation for calving. By the time this newsletter reaches you, Alecia will be riding through the herds at least once a day, checking all of the cows for signs prior to, during and after calving. She will tag calves and record information in her calving book to start records on the 2026 calf crop. With cattle prices seeing new highs (and always uncertain future), each calf’s health and wellbeing is worth too much to go unchecked. Keeping good cattle records not only helps with tracking individual animals but gives an overall snap shot of how each herd is doing from year to year. With the data collected over time, you can start noticing trends We are looking forward to fellowship

and the business of continuing to grow and promote the Barzona breed.

within your herd to help you prepare for those cycles before they come up. We also use info collected at birth such as

Mike & Pat Fitzgerald 130 Fitzgerald Lane, Mosquero, NM 87733 (575) 673-2346 ffcattleco@plateautel.net

Golden Hz Farms Barzona: The breed for busy people These cows take care of themselves!

calf size/weight, ease of birth, alertness of the calf and alert ness of the cow to make decisions about the cow and the bull as well. Selecting the right bull for the right pasture can either make your calving season relatively easy or more of a chore. One other factor that gets overlooked is the current envi ronment. Winters can affect calving as well. Did the cow put the feed to herself, or did she put it all to her calf? Alecia has a list of cows she keeps an eye on because of their habits with environmental influences. We have a birthing kit for when intervention is the only option to get a healthy calf on the ground. When we determine a cow needs intervention, we grab our kit – which includes a calf puller, a good lariat, a halter with a breakaway chin latch for easy removal, a bucket with soap for the chains and some medication. We also have a homemade chute with rollaway

Breeding Stock Available

Matt & Alecia Heinz 2432 250th St Greenfield, IA 50849 smartace007@yahoo.com (641) 745-9170

Alvin & Karen Havens 2429 Orange Ave. Greenfield, IA 50849

www.barzonas.com

BARZONA.ORG • SPRING 2026 | 3

Barzona Breeders Association of America P.O. Box 154 Greenfield, IA 50849

PRESORT MKT. US POSTAGE PAID GUNNISON, CO PERMIT #154

If you’d prefer to receive the Barzona Bulletin by email,

please contact Alecia Heinz at

(641) 745-9170 or barzonabreeders@ gmail.com

FOUNDATION HERD BREEDING STOCK Since 1974

Selling bulls private treaty. Yearling bulls available now.

REGISTERED, PUREBRED BARZONA Breeder since 1986

Semen available on a number of older bulls. Females available periodically private treaty. Foster, OK 73434 (217) 649-5616 Bard Cattle Co. Nancy Bard Nunn 18800 E. County Road 1603

Raymond Boykin, Jr. (334) 430-0563 • etheldozierboykin@yahoo.com 8727 Lydia Lane • Montgomery, AL 36117

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