Haruko

Haruko was one of nine red Akaushi foundation females imported from Kumamoto Prefecture in 1994 by Dr. Al and Marie Wood, and one of the seven subsequently purchased to establish HeartBrand Ranch in Harwood, Texas, together with Namiko, Akiko, Fuyuko, Ume, Dai 8 Marunami and Ringo 117 and the bulls Shigemaru, Tamamaru and Hikari. This single importation is the genetic wellspring of virtually all fullblood Akaushi outside Japan. The heifers were bred to elite Japanese sires Namimaru and Dai 10 Mitsumaru before export. Haruko's specific pedigree is not documented in the public sources reviewed. She matters as one of only a handful of authentic red foundation dams from which the entire Akaushi maternal base abroad descends.