The small mountainous Switzerland is home to several excellent breeds of dairy cattle, which has allowed it to become one of the largest cheese producers in Europe. At the same time, one of the oldest, if not the oldest of the currently existing (and at the same time very popular) breeds is precisely the Swiss Simmental cow. This is a versatile cattle with satisfactory dairy and meat qualities.
The history of the appearance of the Simmental breed
Today, we can only say with certainty that the Simmental breed of cows is indeed one of the oldest. Its creation began in the 5th century and work on improving the breed continued until the second half of the 20th century.
There are different opinions about who was the ancestor of the Simmental cow. According to one version, Simmentals are a cross between wild aurochs and working cows, which the local Gallic tribes used to extract peat. According to another version, the Simmental breed comes from Scandinavian cattle brought to Switzerland at the turn of Antiquity and the Middle Ages.
The question is also controversial, who was the first to create the breed - the Gauls (ancestors of the current French), or the Celts (ancestors of the Swiss). The only thing that is known for sure is that the breed owes its name to the Simmental river valley, located in the Bernese highlands, which is not far from the modern capital of Switzerland. There is no doubt that it was the Swiss who made the main contribution to the development of the breed.
During the first few centuries, breeding selection was carried out mainly in the direction of creating hardy and resistant to the conditions of high mountains. At the same time, apparently, for a long time the Simmental cow did not differ in outstanding productivity. Until the 18th century, this was a short, but well-knit and hardy breed with very mediocre productivity indicators by modern standards.
However, for that era, Simmentals had quite good characteristics, so livestock breeders in other countries paid attention to them. Representatives of the breed were actively used to develop new and improve existing European breeds. Among others, Simmentals owe their appearance to such breeds as Montbéliarde (France), Fleckfie (Germany), Bulgarian Red, Hungarian Pied and others.
In the XVII-XVIII centuries, the expansion of the Simmental cow in Europe began to acquire a massive character. And in the 19th century, with the advent of scientific breeding methods and a change in the general paradigm, the characteristics of the breed were improved even more significantly. At the same time, the emphasis was no longer so much on endurance, but on productivity and exterior qualities. During this period, the breed began to acquire modern features, and interest in it abroad grew even more significantly. In particular, Simmental came to Russia in the middle of the 19th century, and quickly gained popularity here.
In the 20th century, breeders in various countries worked to further improve the characteristics of the Simmental breed of cows, while in Switzerland itself this work did not stop either. So by now, several main and many secondary intrabreed types have formed, which makes the Simmental breed the most variable of all currently existing.
In the USSR, the breed was also actively used in animal husbandry. In addition to purebred Simmentals, many mixed breeds were bred on their basis (Steppe Simmental, Ukrainian Simmental, Volga Simmental, Ural Simmental, Siberian Simmental, Far Eastern, etc.)
In 1990, we had almost 13 million heads of such cows. The collapse of the Union economic problems The 90s and the change of breeds to more productive ones led to a significant reduction in livestock. But even today in Russia there are about 2.5 million cows of the Simmental breed and its derivatives, which is about 15% of the total cattle population. In addition, at the moment, Simmental cows are actively bred in Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries.
Description and characteristics of the Simmental breed of cows
As mentioned above, today there are many intrabreed types of the Simmental cow, which indirectly indicates its great popularity and demand. Moreover, all these subtypes can be reduced to four main groups:
- Dairy grade. Specialized dairy types closest to the original Swiss cattle.
- Mixed varieties. Cattle have good meat characteristics, but the emphasis is still on milk production.
- Dual purpose. All cows are well milked, and bulls have a large live weight.
- Moderate meat type. Cows have a well-developed average well-fed constitution.
- Radical meat type. They have a massive constitution and are comparable in meat productivity with classic meat breeds.
In general, the classic dairy and mixed types are also characterized by a rather strong constitution. At the withers, cows grow up to 140 cm with a body length of up to 165 cm. Simmentals have a rather large head with a wide forehead, a wide back, well-developed muscles under thick skin, and the udder is usually rounded. The mass of adult cows ranges from 550-650 kg, in turn, bulls weigh between 9-12 centners.
The official description of the Simmental cow breed does not contain a strict color standard. Most cows and bulls have a fawn, light tan, or rufous base color with profuse white spots on the flanks and belly. The legs and head (especially the forehead and nose) are always white. In some countries, for example, in the USA, black cows are very common, of which there are about 80%, while the rest are with a rich red-red color of the skin.
As many farmers note, the Simmental breed of cows has a calm, peaceful character, so there are no problems with its content in this regard.
Simmental breeds of the dairy type have quite good average milk yields - from 4 to 5.5 thousand liters of milk per lactation. Absolute records for this breed exceed 10,000 liters at all. In cows of a mixed meat and dairy type, milk yield is noticeably lower, but also quite satisfactory - 3-3.5 thousand liters. According to its characteristics, milk is very good: fat content at the level of 3.7-4% with a rather low content of somatic cells.
The meat characteristics are also pleasing, although, of course, the Simmentals are far from the top meat breeds. Calves from Swiss cows are already born quite large (about 45 kg) and after six months they increase their weight four times. With the stall method of keeping and a high-quality diet, young animals are able to gain up to 900 grams of weight per day.
In well-fed animals, slaughter yields reach 56%, and in bulls often more than 60%. At the same time, the meat is quite high-quality, with an average fat content of about 12%.
Conditions of keeping and diet for Simmental cows
The great popularity of the Simmental breed is explained by the fact that, with fairly good productivity indicators, these cows do not cause any particular trouble in organizing conditions for their maintenance and in choosing a diet.
In summer, Simmentals can be kept outdoors under a simple shed, or even left to spend the night in a pasture. In the cold season, of course, you will already need a warm, but well-ventilated room with a stable temperature.
Calving in most cases is without complications: the help of a veterinarian is not required, as the cow gives birth on her own and then quickly recovers. Calves demonstrate high survival rates, grow well even on artificial feeding.
The diet for Simmental cows is quite standard: in summer - grass, in winter hay; on top dressing all year round vegetables, feed. Since the cows of this breed are quite large, they need enhanced nutrition, especially in winter, when you also need to make sure that there is a sufficient amount of all useful substances in the feed. In the warm season, animals graze willingly, however, without refusing an additional evening portion of grass or hay. In winter, in addition to hay and compound feed, cows can be given boiled corn grains.
To achieve high milk yields, you need to feed the cows to the full, so that the nursery is never empty. The rounded sides of the cow will tell you that the cow is full.
Simmental breed of cows: pros and cons
The very fact that the breed is very popular and makes up a significant part of the livestock in many countries indicates a large preponderance of its positive qualities over its shortcomings. This is also evidenced by the very fact of the long existence of the breed, the roots of which go back to very ancient times.
The main advantages of Simmental cows are:
- Satisfactory performance both in terms of average milk yield and meat characteristics. Many farmers choose this breed precisely because it is truly versatile.
- The good fat content of milk allows it to be successfully used for the production of high-fat dairy products - butter, cream and cheese. At the same time, milk itself is valued for its excellent taste.
- Simmentals quite easily adapt to a wide variety of conditions. They feel equally good both in the north and in the south, and in a stall, and in a meadow, and in a private household, and in a large livestock complex.
- With a calm disposition and obedient nature, Simmental cows compare favorably with some highly specialized breeds known for their skittish character.
- Good health and general endurance is another important advantage of this breed. If you do not violate the elementary rules for keeping and feeding a large cattle, Simmental cows will never get sick.
It is impossible to remain silent about some of the shortcomings that many farmers mention in their reviews of the Simmental breed of cows. When breeding Swiss cows, it is important to consider the following points:
- Representatives of this breed often have a slightly incorrect setting of the limbs, which makes it difficult for animals to move with high speed. In this regard, when driving a herd from pasture to pasture, it is not necessary to arrange a gallop race.
- Some cows also show underdevelopment of the anterior part of the udder. It is not always possible to connect such cows to the milking machine and you either have to milk it manually or select a special model of the device.
- Inverse relationship between meat and milk productivity. This feature is present one way or another in all existing breeds of cattle, but in Simmental cows it manifests itself especially. Therefore, farmers have to keep the dairy herd separate from the meat herd, without crossing them with each other.
Prospects for breeding in Russia
In our country, the Simmental breed of cattle has been known for a long time and for a long time played perhaps the most important role in dairy cattle breeding. It was on its basis that many domestic breeds were bred or improved. At times, the Simmental breed and its derivatives accounted for 15-20% of the total cattle population in our country.
Today, with specialized meat and dairy breeds, the importance of all-purpose breeds such as the Simmental has declined significantly. Large livestock complexes prefer to engage in highly productive, albeit more difficult to care for and maintain, cows.
However, many people still breed Simmentalok, as they give a good yield of meat and milk, but at the same time do not cause much trouble. This factor is most important for small and medium-sized farms, as well as for peasants who keep cows at home.
Taking into account the fact that the pros and cons of the Simmental breed of cows are perfectly balanced, and good milk yields are combined with high meat productivity, it still remains one of the best in the universal meat and dairy segment.
Cows in the household and on farms are able to produce not only healthy and tasty milk, but also meat. Great option for those who need both, and more, is the choice of meat and dairy breeds. One of the most popular among them is Simmental, which differs good performance productivity. However, like any other livestock, this one needs proper care in order to fully unlock the potential of productivity.
The history of breeding the Simmental breed
The ancestors of the Simmental breed were tamed in ancient times. At the same time, in the nineteenth century, they were widespread in Switzerland, where they improved by crossing with other species.
Thus, new breeds were bred, such as red Bulgarian and red garden. In Russia, Simmental cows appeared already in the twentieth century and became widespread throughout the territory.
External characteristics
Cows and bulls are quite tall, have large muscle mass and a strong skeleton. Some farmers claim that the weight of these males is gigantic, which makes it possible to sell them profitably for meat. Also, animals have a wide chest and short strong legs.
Animals of this breed are suitable for both dairy and meat breeding.
The color of cattle can be from fawn to red, while the head is usually white. The skin, as a rule, is very dense and thick, the udder of cows is rounded with large nipples. The horns are small, the neck is of medium length. The body weight of a cow can reach six hundred kilograms, a bull - a thousand or more. In this case, the height is usually about one and a half meters, the length is one hundred and sixty centimeters.
Proper maintenance of cows
For keeping cows and bulls of the Simmental breed, no special conditions are required. First of all, you should take care of the cowshed. A log, plank or concrete room, sheathed with insulating materials, is suitable as it. The floor must also be insulated, even if it is cast in concrete. It should be covered with boards and bedding from the remnants of hay, straw or sawdust.
Cows of this breed are quite calm and it is recommended to use a loose type of housing for them.
It is important to equip the barn with a small paddock. To do this, you do not need to build a huge aviary with high walls, half the height of human growth is enough so that animals cannot step over or jump over it. You can put such a fence from a slab or any boards. Calculate the size of the room and walking should be based on the number of cows, calves and bulls that will be in the flock. In this case, calves should be protected by an additional fence with a gate.
The feeder can be made from boards. It should be large enough to hold the amount of hay needed for at least one head (or depending on the number of animals).
Once or twice a day (in the morning and at night) the floor in the barn and range must be cleaned of manure and dirt, for which a large shovel should be brought. After the cleaning procedure, a new layer of clean bedding should be laid. This is important for safety and hygiene reasons, as well as to avoid the need for frequent washing of animals before milking. You can milk cows both by hand and with the help of a special milking machine.
To disinfect the room and prevent the occurrence and spread of the fungus, you can use slaked lime or soda ash. They should process the walls and, if possible, the floor.
milk yield
The skeleton of cows and bulls is quite strong and massive, but the amount of meat on it is also large. As a rule, it contains no more than fifteen to seventeen percent fat.
The productivity of milk in this case depends on the breeding and rearing area, as well as on the quality of feeding.
Averages during lactation and the best nutrition range from two and a half to six thousand kilograms of milk, but in some cases it reaches ten thousand. The average fat content of the product is three and a half to four percent.
In order to increase milk yield, it is important to feed cows with high-quality feed, fresh vegetables and fruits, and boiled potatoes.
Animals have the following benefits:
- disease resistance;
- proportionally high income of meat and milk (on a par with);
- unpretentiousness of calves to maintenance and cultivation;
- rapid weight gain;
- calm character;
- quick and easy adaptation to changes in the conditions of detention;
- the possibility of crossing with other breeds with the prospect of improving productivity characteristics;
- protein-rich milk, suitable for making high-quality cottage cheese and cheese;
- long period of lactation.
In addition to high-quality and tasty meat and milk in large quantities, animals have one more important thing for countryside dignity - they can be used as draft animals.
How to feed
In the spring, with the advent of green grass, feeding cows and bulls of the Simmental breed is greatly simplified. Usually they have enough of the food that they find in pastures. For drinking, there are usually watering holes in rural areas. However, it is believed that the cow herself will return home in the evenings after grazing, if she is fed with vegetables and mixed fodder.
With dry feeding, water should be given more than usual.
In the middle of autumn and until the very spring, you have to properly feed the cattle on your own. For this, hay should be stocked for each head at the rate of eight to ten kilograms per day. Don't forget about water too. You can lead animals to a watering hole or solder them with plumbing, buckets and troughs.
Breeding at home
Breeding Simmental cows is quite simple. It is believed that calving in these animals is easy, while there is a possibility of twins, which can help increase the number of livestock in the shortest possible time. Insemination of females easily takes place both naturally and artificially.
Calves at birth can reach a weight of fifty kilograms. You can also grow them on artificial feeding. This is important so that the cow does not tend to feed all her milk naturally. Also, if a calf drinks too much, it can get sick. It should be fed at least three times a day with fresh fresh milk. If it is not possible to obtain such a product, you can slightly warm up the available stocks on the stove.
Before feeding, you need to make sure that the milk has not started to sour. A product that is too cold or hot for a newborn animal can also be dangerous.
It will not be difficult to buy a calf of any age and in any part of Russia, since the Simmental breed is very popular. It is best to do this in special farms, after making sure that the animal has all the necessary vaccinations and stigma.
Video
For more details regarding the productivity and maintenance of Simmental cows, see the video
Conclusion
The Simmental breed of cows is one of the most popular due to the possibility of obtaining a large amount of healthy milk and meat with its help. Animals are characterized not only by high productivity, but also by unpretentiousness, as well as by a high percentage of survival and disease resistance. At the same time, it is quite simple to purchase dairy cows for maintenance or breeding due to the wide distribution in Russia.
For cattle farmers, it is very important to get the maximum benefit from the animal. It is good when the animal as a result gives a lot of milk and meat. To satisfy such a desire, it is only necessary to carry out right choice breeds. With regards to these characteristics, the first breed that you should pay attention to is the Simmental.
Those involved in research in the cattle breeding industry do not have a specific opinion about how the Simmental breed of cows appeared. There are two opinions on this matter. Some experts believe that this breed originated from wild aurochs, which were crossed with Helvetian cows. Another opinion is that the Simmental breed is a descendant of the cows of the Scandinavian peninsula, namely those that were brought to Switzerland in the 5th century.
Another name for the breed is Bernese. This is due to the fact that in the valley in which the cows lived, a river called Simma (Bern) flowed. Considering that in Switzerland one of the most advanced industries is the production of high-class milk, cheese and beef, Swiss scientists have taken care to create a suitable breed of cows with high productivity.
At the same time, it was important that the animals were distinguished by high rates of productivity with regard to both dairy and meat directions. The development of the breed took place over many centuries. Animals grazed in alpine meadows, eating rich herbs.
The first representatives of the Simmental breed were unproductive, but over time, these animals became an excellent meat and dairy breed of cattle. Now the Simmental cow is found on 5 continents. As for Russia, it came here in the 19th century.
Characteristics and external data with photographs
With regards to the characteristics of the breed, first of all it is worth noting that it is classified as a universal species. This breed is not in vain in demand, because it belongs to both the dairy breed of cows and meat.
The detailed characteristics of the Simmental breed are as follows:
- The peculiarity of the exterior of such an animal is primarily its color, which can vary between fawn and red.
- The animal has a powerful skeleton, well-developed muscles and udder.
- The color of the nasolabial mirror, eyelids, tongue and hooves is light pink.
- The udder has a cup-shaped appearance, the shape of the nipples on the udder is cone-shaped.
- The skull is characterized by a well-developed frontal lobe.
- The chest is deep.
- The mass of an individual that has reached the age of three is 500-600 kg, bulls reach 1 ton in live weight.
- The dimensions of the animal in height at the withers - 140 cm, width chest- 70 cm, along the oblique torso - 160 cm.
Regarding milk yield, how much milk such a cow gives depends primarily on the feeding and habitat of the animal. The average indicators of this characteristic are 4-5 thousand kilograms for the period of one lactation. At the same time, the average percentage of fat content in milk is 4.1%; there are no somatic cells in it. The amount of protein in dairy products averages 3.4%.
Important. On average, a cow can live 10-12 years.
Simmental cows reach a live weight of 600 kg. Pros and cons of the breed
Those who have encountered the content of such a breed of cows say that animals have many virtues. Scott is very obedient and understands what they want from him. If you provide them good conditions maintenance and care, then the animals will show many of their worthy qualities.
The pros and cons for this breed are as follows:
- Cattle are distinguished by good physical activity and appetite. Animals have a strong immune system and quickly adapt to different living conditions.
- It is convenient to feed such animals on pastures, as they prefer to eat roughage.
- The interval between calving is short, and there is a high probability that two twin calves will be born at once. This allows the livestock to increase in a very short time.
- The process of childbirth is quite easy, the young are not prone to mortality. After birth, calves do not require special conditions regarding feeding and maintenance. They are also able to easily adapt to any conditions.
- The younger generation is unpretentious, in one day they are able to gain weight in the amount of one and a half kilograms.
- Milk has good taste and quality characteristics, despite the fact that milk yield is also very high.
- This breed can be used in breeding to achieve the goal of increasing meatiness and milkiness.
Young growth of the Simmental breed can gain up to 1.5 kg of weight per day. As for the shortcomings, the farmer is unlikely to have to face them if he ensures the proper maintenance and care of these animals. However, there are situations that the farmer cannot influence. They concern individual cows, which may have a disproportionate udder, incorrect positioning of the legs and a sagging back.
Another disadvantage of this breed is that when breeding them for meat, you may encounter the fact that there are a large number of bones in it. If you want to breed this breed at home, subsequent generations may have some disadvantages regarding the exterior. Otherwise, there are no problems with this cattle.
Care and maintenance
Any farmer knows that the whole process of care and maintenance can be divided into several points. These are the conditions in which the animal is kept and its diet.
With regards to the rules of care that the Simmental breed needs, they are as follows:
Important. If the Simmental breed is found in the northern regions, then a manure cushion can be used for barn bedding. This will help improve the level of temperature and microclimate in the winter.
Feeding Simmental cows
To ensure a high level of productivity of livestock of this breed, it is necessary to draw up the right diet that will meet certain requirements.
The diet should be:
- The most varied.
- Corresponding to the period.
- be appropriate for the purpose of breeding the animal.
- period of physiological development.
To calculate the diet of animals, two methods are used: the old and the new.
They are the following:
- The old way: 1 feed unit is equal to 1414 kcal, which corresponds to 1 kg of oats in terms of nutritional value.
- The new method is a calculation where 1 energy feed unit is equal to 10 MJ of the energy component.
Simmental cows must have roughage in their diet Highly productive animals need individual selection of feed.
Simmental nutrition should include:
- succulent fodder, namely, pasture forbs, sowing grasses, vegetables and root crops;
- roughage, waste from threshing, cereals and legumes, hay and straw;
- cereal concentrates such as bran, meal, cake;
- vitamin and mineral complexes. Vitamins A, D, E, minerals selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc are needed.
Important. Pregnant cows need a 25% increase in the protein content of the diet after an increase in metabolism occurs. Protein for them will provide legume hay, silage and haylage. However, an excess amount of protein can lead to complications during childbirth.
Calf care
The process of breeding this breed is quite simple, it can be carried out in a natural way and artificially. Newborn calves do not need any special care measures. After birth, the young immediately rise to their feet. Babies weighing up to 50 kg are born.
Simmental calves do not need special care. Mostly passes without complications. An adult cow is able to give birth on her own, without outside help, while, as soon as the birth is over, she recovers in a short period of time, and then she provides decent care for her calf. She has a very well developed maternal instinct. The calves themselves have high levels of survivability and calmly endure any conditions of detention. They can be fed artificially.
The Simmental cow breed originated in Switzerland. Unfortunately, it is impossible to say the exact date when this breed was bred, since breeders have been working on the breed for more than one hundred years. It is known for sure that Simmentals appeared in the vastness of Russia already in the 19th century.
It is noteworthy that this breed was very popular in Soviet times. This is due to the fact that such cows are unpretentious in food and do not require special conditions for maintenance and care. This breed can be perfectly kept both in the household and on a large farm.
The history of the origin of the breed
- This is one of the oldest varieties, which originated almost from wild representatives. The first attempts to breed this breed were made in the distant Middle Ages. It was then that the French tried to cross the wild tour with a working cow. However, those cows were very far from modern Simmentals.
A significant contribution was made by Swiss scientists, who, in the end, brought out this variety.
It is noteworthy that cattle received their modern look already in the 19th century. It was during this century that laws were passed to improve pastoralism. Thus, only large and healthy animals that had strong bones were chosen for divorce.
Centuries-old selection has given its Benefits. This type of cattle has high both meat and dairy indicators. In addition, it is resistant to various pathologies and diseases.
What are the advantages of the Simmental breed?
- This breed belongs to the meat and dairy type, that is, it is able to produce both meat and milk of good quality.
- With good fattening of young animals, you can get a big gain.
- A distinctive feature of the Simmental breed is its precocity.
- Such cows and bulls acclimatize very well and get used to new conditions.
- The Simmental breed of cows has good immunity and is able to perform hard work.
- The skin of animals of this breed is highly valued.
However, before you get such a cow or bull, you should also pay attention to limitations. So, the main ones are:
- The Simmental breed of cows requires care, otherwise it will begin to degenerate.
- Feed such animals should be only high-quality hay.
- Cows and bulls of this breed have the wrong setting of the limbs. In addition, they have a sagging back.
- Cows may have a poorly developed anterior part of the udder.
Characteristics of external data
It is noteworthy that representatives of this breed are quite large. With properly selected nutrition, cows of this breed can weigh more than 600 kg, if we are talking about a 2-year-old person. But Simmental gobies can gain weight up to 1 ton.
If speak about colors skin, then it can be fawn or fawn-colored. But translated individuals may have a black and white color.
The main features of the breed:
- small and forward-curved horns;
- strong constitution;
- the neck may be sagging;
- large head;
- round and big belly;
- long tail with a fairly thick brush at the end.
Features of cattle
Despite the fact that the cow has an impressive size, it has a calm and complaisant character. Therefore, breeding them is quite simple.
It is noteworthy that the Simmentals will Great feel themselves in any corner of Russia, as they tolerate both heat and cold very well. In addition, they can go without water.
It should be noted that with good care, cattle can produce about 5 thousand liters of milk during the lactation season. The life expectancy of such cows is 10-12 years.
The weight of an animal directly depends on its age. By themselves, such cows are large and dense.
The height can be 135 cm, and the length of the body is 160 cm.
It should be noted that at birth a small calf can weigh about 45 kg.
What is the milk production of this breed?
The zone of residence determines how much milk a cow will give.
On average, during the lactation period, one cow can bring from 3 thousand to 5 thousand kg of milk.
The fat content of such milk is 3.8%.
Features of Simmental calves
It should be noted that this type of livestock is characterized by high growth rates and high daily weight gain. By 15–18 months of his life, a bull with good nutrition can reach a mass of 500 kg. Simmental calves are quite strong, and pathologies are extremely rare. At birth, weight can be between 36–45 depending on the sex of the cattle.
How to keep livestock?
Cattle of this breed require enhanced nutrition, especially in the winter season, since it is during this period that there is a lack of vitamins. In the summer, Simmentals are best taken out to the field, where they can enjoy meadow or field grasses. In addition, one should not forget that they need feed hay and fodder.
If we talk about the winter maintenance of livestock, then it should be noted that cows need to be fed hay, corn leaves, oats and wheat.
Animals should always be fed to the full, but should not be overfed. It is best to feed 2-3 times a day.
It should be noted that overfeeding can be fraught with poisoning, severe emaciation or even death. Do not feed the animal with young corn or freshly cut hay. Speaking about the diet of calves, it should be noted that they must be left either with the cow, or transferred to a separate diet.
To understand that the cow is already full, you should look at her sides: they should be rounded, and the udder should be filled with milk.
How widespread is this breed of cows?
To buy cattle of this breed in Russia is very easily. It is noteworthy that only near Moscow there are several dozen farms where you can buy such a cow or bull.
It should be noted that Simmentals in Russia are used mainly for improvements local breeds. So, the local Sechenovskaya variety of meat and dairy cattle was bred. However, today it has practically disappeared. Most pure simmentals can be found in Bashkiria, Voronezh or Belgorod regions.
As a result, it should be noted that Simmentals are a very old variety of cows. It is noteworthy that they are meat and dairy. Consequently, they give milk and meat of equally good quality.
Simmental breed released in Switzerland. The Simmental breed was first brought to Russia in the first half of the 19th century. Direction of productivity - milk and meat.
In recent years, herds of meat Simmentals have appeared (Orenburg region). The Simmental breed is bred mainly in the Central, Southern, Volga, Siberian and Far Eastern federal districts.
Simmental animals quite well developed. Live weight of calves at birth - 34-42 kg, upskirt at 18 months of age - 343, cows — 550- 590, bulls- 850-1100 kg.
The height at the withers of adult cows is 133-135, - 138-145 cm. Animals of the Simmental breed are of proportional build, with strong bones, the muscles are well developed, the limbs are usually set correctly, the skin is thick.
The color of animals is predominantly fawn and fawn-motley. In herds of breeding farms, the average cow milk is 4480 kg of milk fat content 3.77% (milk fat production 169 kg).
A high pregnancy rate (on average 93% for heifers and cows), a short intercalving period of 378 days and a high twin rate (about 5%) guarantee a high weaning of calves. The ease of calving is also a characteristic feature of the Simmental breed.
By precocity Simmental breed does not differ from . The age of the first calving was 31.4 months, and in breeding farms- 31 months. Animals of the Simmental breed are characterized by a high adaptive capacity. Purpose of purebred breeding simmentals- obtaining animals of double productivity with the predominant development of the dairy trait. Undeniable outstanding properties Simmental cattle for meat production, due to the excellent development of muscles, high average daily weight gain and low obesity of fattening bulls when they reach a live weight of 600 kg or more.
The experience of Germany, Austria and Russia shows that Simmental cows can be successfully used in beef cattle breeding according to cow-calf program. At the same time, the number of fattening livestock is ensured not only due to purebred breeding of the Simmental breed, but also due to industrial crossing with bulls meat breeds.
Simmental breed widely distributed abroad (USA, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and a number of other countries). Further breeding in our country is focused on purebred breeding of animals of the dairy and meat direction of productivity, as well as on the creation of dairy and meat types. For this purpose, along with the use of our own sires, the creation of reproducers of Simmental cattle of Austrian and German selections is envisaged.
On the basis of crossing the Simmental breed with bulls of the Holstein breed of red-and-white color, it was bred (1998).
Crossbreeds from crossing with the Red-and-White breed (blood less than 50%) should be bred according to the program for creating a dairy type of Simmental cattle. In the breed, the Borodino type has been bred, which has a high productivity.
The Association for the Improvement of Simmental Cattle is located in the All-Russian State Research Institute of Animal Husbandry (VIZH) of the Russian Agricultural Academy (Dubrovitsy, Moscow Region).
Loading...