Barroso
(most common name)

The Barroso is a dairy/beef breed that descends from Guatemalan west coast Criollo cattle.

The Barroso originated during the latter part of the colonial period in Guatemalan history (1524–1821). A privately owned herd located in Chuiquimulilla, Santa Rosa was started by Salvador Malgar in 1765. He selected for milk production and a silvery-grey-brown coat color. In 1985, this herd numbered about 800 and has been used for research in genetic studies of tropically-adapted dairy cattle.

The Barroso home range is close to the Pacific coast and they are very well adapted to its hot, dry, tropical climate.

Distinguishing characteristics:
• very short, sparse hair
• pigmented skin
• scanty tail switch
• very small ears
• incurving horns
• wrinkles around the eyes and neck
• pronounced angular lines in the cows
• decided sexual dimorphism in the bulls (very muscular and much taller than the cows)

(Spanish) Barroso = muddy, dun

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

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