Fleckvieh cattle
Simmental cattle, also called Simmental or Simmental, is a breed of cattle house. However, the wording is different to that in Germany and Austria in Switzerland. In Germany and Austria Simmental and Simmental and Simmental are used interchangeably. In Switzerland, is called Simmental animals with less than 12.5 % Red Holstein ancestors, while the term Swiss Simmental and 1 July 2008 referred to animals that have Red Holstein ancestors from 12.5 to 75 %. From 1 July 2008, the so-called blood limit has been increased to differentiation from Red Holstein to 87%. In addition, Swiss Fleckvieh is to become a distinct breed. However, the Simmental in Germany and in Austria performs a certain amount of Red Holstein blood.
Fleckvieh is a so-called dual-purpose breed, in which the milk and the meat performance all play a role. The breed goes back to domestic cattle in the Simmen Valley in the Bernese Oberland, which was already known in the Middle Ages for its large breed and spotted cattle.
- 3.1 Urheimat
- 3.2 Beginnings of the breed in Germany
- 3.3 Beginnings of the breed in Austria
- 4.1 Simmental - double occupancy
- 4.2 Fleckvieh beef use
Breed Standards
Together, all animals of this breed is the white head, with occasional eye or back spots and the white legs. Furthermore, the lower abdomen and the tail tuft are always white. The genetic material for these characteristics are inherited dominantly. The rest of the coat can occur in gradations of color from light yellow to dark reddish brown, as has the proportion of white spots is highly variable.
Also typical of the breed is the wide, unpigmented muzzle and broad forehead of the cattle. The breed has at the neck base on a pronounced dewlap. The horns are bright, with slightly curved outward and upward yellowish tips.
The animals are medium to large in size. The withers is bulls at 150 to 158 and for cows at 138 to 142 centimeters. The cows weigh about 600-800 kg, bulls about 1100 to 1300 kg. The daily weight gain at the cops are 1200-1500 grams.
Breeding directions
Fleckvieh dual purpose
As one of the most important cattle breeds in Germany, the Simmental is held as a dual-purpose cattle. The breeding animals are selected for milk and meat production. Are situated on a very high level, the meat performance is much better than the Holstein Cattle. To improve milk yield but partially Red Holstein crossbred.
In 1993, a breeding goal has been set for a comprehensive analysis of the reorganization of the EC agricultural policy with price reduction decisions for milk and beef, which is a dual-purpose cattle with an average of 7000 kg of milk at 3.9 % fat and 3.7 % protein, and daily weight gain in young bulls of more than 1300 g and 60 % carcass yield envisaged. Full-grown cows should have 138-142 cm at the withers and weigh 750 kilograms. It was recommended to slow the foreseeable size development. It was put on physique weight and udder traits, but breeding performance, health and feed intake were classified as secondary.
In late 2006 the breeding goal has been adjusted again. There the vision of Prof. Fewson (1993 ) was used: breeding of animals vital to guarantee future production under conditions of the highest possible profit. This means that more weight was given to the breeding of healthy animals and the income security of farmers. Milk: Meat: Fitness are 38: 17: 45 weighted and considered the exterior individually.
Even now achieve single Fleckvieh cows performances in 305 days of 10,000 kg and more. Individual establishments in Switzerland even reach an average already benefits against 10.000 kg of milk per cow per year.
Meat Fleckvieh ( Simmental Beef )
The use of these domestic cattle breed as dual-purpose breed is typical for Central Europe. Worldwide, these cattle is of great importance especially in meat production. The wealth of the mothers milk provides a very good basis for the breed as pure meat breed Represents the age at first calving of cows is 30 months.
Bulls take daily 1.300 to grams. The dressing percentage is 63 percent at approx.
Breed characteristics:
- Good milk production
- High weaning
Genetically hornless Simmental
Currently mainly only in the beef cattle and important first genetically hornless animals are also in the dual-purpose type available. They are very good for playpen and group housing. The risk of injury to each other and to humans is minimized.
Origin
Urheimat
The original home of this cattle breed is probably the Bernese Oberland ( Simmental ). The Simmental originated from different local impacts. Main strokes were the big Saanen impact and the lighter Frutigland cattle. It is certain that the Simmental is bred in western Switzerland since at least 1400 years. The Simmental was similar closely related to the now extinct Freiburg race as the Red- Holstein and Holstein breed. The Red & white Simmental cow differed from the Freiburgerkuh by the inherited from both parents recessive red factor, which thereby led to Red Holstein phenotypic appearance.
Beginnings of the breed in Germany
Starting from 1835 the Simmental has purposefully imported from the Simmental to Germany. Four bodies began about the same time the pure breeding of Fleckvieh: Hohenheim and Meßkirch in Baden -Württemberg and Mies Bach and Bayreuth in Bavaria.
Beginnings of farming in Austria
Around 1830, the first Simmenthaler in Austria were used for both milk production and draft animals. This breed was crossed with local breeds such as with bald look, Rotscheckenvieh, Ennstaler Bergschecken, Welser piebald, Innviertler piebald and piebald Pusteria, Oberinntaler, Lower Inn Valley Zillertal or the Simmental. In Austria, the Simmental has been included in the register of traditional foods.
Dissemination
The Fleckvieh ( Simmental breed) is now at home on all continents. With around 41 million animals it is one of the largest cattle populations.
Simmental - double occupancy
Fleckvieh beef use
An attitude of this house cattle breed mainly for meat production takes place among others in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Australia and New Zealand.