Barzona_Bulletin_Winter_2020

From Our Association Secretary

By Alecia Heinz, Golden Hz Farm, BBAA Secretary C alving season is right around the corner, if you’re not already in the middle of it. That also means bull-buying season is coming up

as well. Before you go right back to using your normal guy, let’s talk a little about the significant influence bull choice ac- tually has, and where dams and Mother Nature tend to affect your end product. 1. Fertility. We can agree that a bull has one job, and he better be good at it. Fertility is a very im- portant factor when looking at bulls. Many breeders will look at scrotal circumference and while this has validity in the big picture, it’s not everything. You also must become familiar with your breeds. English breeds like Angus and Hereford will naturally have larger scrotal circumferences compared to breeds like the Barzona. That does NOT mean Barzonas are less

fertile. It is merely a breed characteristic. You should also consider things like semen motility, morphology and vol- ume to help determine a bull’s overall breeding success. 2. Calving ease. This is also a huge factor, especially on heifers and it’s not just about birth weight. I know sev- eral ranchers who look specifically for small heads in an attempt to regulate calf shape. However, if you look at I always figure you have to start with your goal and work backward when picking a bull. the streamlined shape of Barzona calves, they are nar- rower at birth from nose to tail. That shape, combined with a smaller size, will keep it to where they practically fall out. A Kansas rancher made a special effort to weigh every calf out of his small Barzona herd, and the range was from 57 to 64 pounds. Don’t let your packer panic, that shape will get broader with age, typically really wid- ening at maturity after a year of age and leaving you with a perfectly marketable animal. 3. Growth. Here is where the influence starts to get a lit- tle sketchier. Yes, genetics are important. If calves aren’t coded to grow well, they don’t stand much chance. But even a well-coded calf for growth will gain less if their dam doesn’t milk well (for a variety of reasons), if they

get sick at a young age, or if their overall environment just isn’t friendly. Birthing early or late in the season can affect growth, again relating back to environmental in- fluences. When evaluating your bull at the end of the season, don’t forget to account for some of the stresses that have influenced your herd over the last 18 months. From experience: a hard winter during that pregnancy will negatively affect weaning weight, and it had nothing to do with my bulls. I always figure you must start with your goal and work back- ward when picking a bull. You should know where you are go- ing in order to know where to start. When it comes to adapting to your middle ground, you must know your environment. You need a calf that is born alive and stays that way. One that can grow in your environment and make it to market. You need a bull that can do the same, is easy on the eyes and easy on your cows. A bull that can get the job done and not cause a lot of trouble. #Barzona BB

Golden Hz Farm Barzona: The breed for busy people

These cows take care of themselves!

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

WWW.BARZONA.COM • WINTER 2020 | 3