Barzona
beef cattle were bred from
Hereford,
Angus,
Afrikander, and
Santa Gertirudis by
F.N. Bard and
Elliot Humphrey, who sought to create a
breed capable of thriving in the harsh climate of
Arizona.
Over the course of several decades, the various traits of the cattle were bred in and out of the herd, until the Barzona became a specific and genetically distinguishable type of cow.
Though the process was fairly brutal, with genetically-inferior cattle sold immediately to the slaughterhouse, the result was a tough breed well-suited to the Arizona environment.
Barzona can produce ample amounts of red, well-marbled meat in climates which feature a wide fluctuation in temperature, droughts and deluges, and inconsistent patterns of vegetation.
This node is part of Tem42's list of cattle breeds, entitled, simply, cattle.