Barzona-Bulletin-Spring-2026

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

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