AN EXPANDING BREED

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 30

AN EXPANDING BREED

Intense interest is being shown by New Zealand cattlemen in the Simmental breed, one of the European breeds which has recently been adopted in many countries of the world. The Simmental is the most rapidly expanding of the new breeds in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada, and is making rapid strides in Australia and New Zealand.

The Simmental is a big animal, with mature bulls reaching 28001 b liveweight, and mature cows up to 16501 b. The young cattle gain weight rapidly, and steers are normally giving carcases of 6001 b to 7001 b at 15 months. The ratio of flesh to fat is exceptionally good, and the meat grades very well. The cows are big producers of milk and milkfat, and are ranked second only to the Friesian. Yields upwards of 10,0001 b of milk at better than 4 per cent fat are common.

The Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Society of New Zealand, formed last year to look after the breed, has 170 members with herds from North Auckland to Southland. The society has started a grading-up programme, and some thousands of calves eligible for registration have been born this spring from artificial insemination to top British bulls. The modem Simmental was developed from the native red and white breed of the Simme Valley in Switzerland where it became famous centuries ago for its generous production of both milk and meat. In 1806 a herd book was established to record pedigree and performance — the first breed to be so treated. About 80 years ago the Simmental expanded rapidly into Germany, France and Austria, and thence into most other countries in Europe where it now numbers 35,000,000. As well as these purebreds, the F.A.O. lists 30 other improved breeds with Simmental in their background. Because of its high commercial performance the Simmental has, through Al,

been adopted throughout the world in the last few years. One of its great strengths is the detailed testing and recording it has undergone in Europe ever since 1806. European methods, which have been adopted in the new countries, have presented cattlemen with a breed of which the commercial performance is highly predictable.; The Simmental has been outstanding in comparative breed trials everywhere and! in all environments as a! terminal and grading-up sire in beef breeding, and in maintaining milk yield and expanding high grade meat production in dairy herds. Continual improvement is i being made in its already ’ high commercial yield of meat and milk while retaining the Simmental: capacity for rapid growth,: docility, long productive life, and ability to forage actively and do well in even the hardest conditions. ? New Zealand cattlemen j have been quick to grasp i the opportunities the breed offers to meet profitably the : highly specialised demands of today’s cattle industry.