The Simmental breed of bulls and cows has a characteristic meat exterior - a long rectangular body, a muscular, dense body. However, these animals, originally from Switzerland, are bred not only for their meat. Over the course of 15 years of life, cows constantly produce from 3.5 to 7 thousand kg of milk per lactation period. Bulls are bred for meat, and they are kept in stalls so that they fatten faster and move less.
Origin story
Simmental cows are animals bred in Switzerland in the area of the Simma River (Bernese Highlands). They belong to the meat and dairy type. Characteristic features: fawn (light brown) color with white spots, huge long rectangular body, muscular body, short legs, highly attached udder.
Eat Simmental cows with horns and polled. These are record animals among cattle in terms of slaughter meat yield and milk yield. The Simmental breed was developed through folk selection. The ancestors of these animals are considered to be cattle from Scandinavia. In the 5th century, work began to improve the breed. In the mid-19th century, Semental cows and Simmental bulls became the most popular animals in Europe, as their breeding was profitable in terms of milk and meat.
This breed is loved for its calm nature, high productivity and ease of care. In Russia and Ukraine, the Simmental cow appeared only at the end of the 19th century.
Based on Simmentals, new breeds have been developed in breeding farms (Montbéliarde, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Slovak Pied, Fleckvieh). German livestock specialists have been breeding more productive types of Simmental cows for more than 100 years. These animals are loved by farmers in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse. Purebred Semental heifers from Germany fetch almost $2,000. Before the first calving, cows gain about 600 kg of weight.
Description and characteristics of the Simmental breed
Appearance and main features of Simmentals:
- color - fawn, variegated (fawn-white);
- body length - 161-165 cm;
- height at withers - 134-141 cm;
- cow weight - 555-650 kg;
- weight of bulls - 905-1200 kg;
- weight of newborn calves - 35-45 kg;
- there are breeds with horns and polled ones;
- the body is wide, rectangular, long;
- the head is large with a wide forehead;
- the neck is short;
- back straight;
- the skin is thick and strong;
- legs are short;
- muscular body;
- the udder is round, raised, nipples are cylindrical;
- The chest is deep and large, the lower back is wide;
- the nose and eyelids have a pink tint (no spots).
In Simmental cows, the color is sometimes reddish (red) or red-white. Animals are distinguished by large muscular bodies, high productivity and rapid weight gain. A cow produces about 15-18 liters of milk per day. Every year the female gives birth to 1-2 calves.
Simmental young bulls are highly prized. They are bought for fattening for meat. In the first months of life, Simmental calves grow rapidly, gaining almost 1000-1300 grams of weight every day. This feature of their body allows them to save feed and quickly obtain meat products. At 18 months, the bulls already weigh 600 kg. The slaughter yield of meat is almost 65 percent.
Main pros and cons
Content Rules
Simmental cows can adapt to any climate. The main thing is to keep the cattle clean, on dry bedding and provide them with high-quality feed. Simmentals do not conflict with other animals, but they need their own place in the barn.
Cows are kept in a room where the temperature is maintained at 15-20 degrees Celsius all year round, ventilation is provided, there is a manger for hay, a feeder and a drinking bowl.
During the warm season, it is recommended to graze Simmentals in the meadow. In snow and frost, it is better to keep animals indoors, but be sure to walk them daily in a walking area or near the barn. Cows are fed 2-3 times a day and milked three times a day.
Required care
Simmental cows are very clean animals. They need to change their bedding daily. If a cow sleeps on dirty and wet straw, she may develop udder mastitis. Cattle must be kept in a clean, dry, ventilated, but draft-free room. It is advisable to arrange a walking area near the barn so that the cows can go for a walk at any time of the year. The walking area can be protected from precipitation by a canopy.
Animals must be provided with food and water. Cows should eat and drink to their heart's content. In addition, milk yield directly depends on the amount of water. Before each milking, the udder of a Simmental cow should be washed with warm water and dried with a clean towel. It is advisable to lubricate the nipples with fat. The hind legs must be constantly cleaned of feces and dirt.Once every six months it is recommended to give medications against intestinal parasites and lice.
Diet
It is recommended to graze cows on pasture throughout the warm period. On It is advisable to keep cattle in stalls only in winter. One cow eats up to 50 kg of grass per day and drinks almost 30 liters of water. For the winter, the animal needs to prepare 0.5 tons of hay. Cows are turned out to pasture in early spring, when the grass reaches 15 cm in height. The preferred vegetation is legumes and cereals.
The main food of these ruminants is fresh grass in summer and hay in winter. As a top dressing, Simmentals are allowed to be given finely chopped vegetables, fruits, grain mixtures, and animal feed. In winter, animals can be fed silage and straw. In winter, it is recommended to give Simmentals pharmaceutical vitamin and mineral preparations and sweet water. Every day a Simmental cow should eat 20-50 grams of salt.
Breeding
Sexual maturity in the Simmental breed occurs at 20 months. True, females mate a little later. Typically, Simmental cows are inseminated (naturally or artificially) at 24-25 months, that is, at the age of two years. Pregnancy lasts 9 months. The pregnant cow is transferred to dry land and gradually begins to be started. 2 months before the birth of the calves, the female stops milking.
Childbirth in Simmentals is easy; the female gives birth on her own. Healthy calves weighing 35-45 kilograms are born. For newborns, you can cut the umbilical cord and treat it with iodine, clean the nostrils of mucus.
After birth, the placenta comes out of the uterus. It is advisable to remove the place from the barn so that the cow does not eat it, otherwise digestive problems may occur.
Newborns can be fed colostrum within 30 minutes after birth.Small calves eat 5 times a day. Over time, the number of feedings is reduced (brought to three times a day). After each meal, colostrum is milked so that the cow is milked faster and more milk flows into the udder.
At one month of age, calves should already be drinking liquid from a bucket. Milk can be diluted little by little with water. During the first 4 months of life, calves are kept with their mother. The cubs are fed with mother's milk, gradually becoming accustomed to grass. At this age, calves grow rapidly, gaining almost 1 kilogram in weight every day. The cow recovers well after giving birth; during this period she is given succulent feed. It is desirable that the next calving occurs after 380 days.
Diseases and their treatment
The Simmental cattle breed has good immunity. True, with improper and poor-quality nutrition and errors in care, animals get sick. Diseases mainly occur due to human fault (if cows are poorly cared for and are not vaccinated on time).
Common diseases and treatment:
- tympany (bloating, accumulation of gases) - occurs when consuming legumes and large amounts of water, is treated by sticking out the tongue, inserting a probe into the esophagus, pouring in fresh milk, a solution of vodka, dill tincture, the drug "Tympanol";
- mastitis (udder disease) - occurs when the rules of keeping and milking cows are violated, injuries to the udder tissue, is treated by switching from succulent feed to hay, limiting watering, frequent milking and emptying the udder from the contents, to facilitate milking, Oxytocin, Pituitrin are prescribed, 1-2 percent solution of sodium bicarbonate, for inflammation, antibiotics are injected;
- hoof diseases - arise as a result of being kept on wet and dirty bedding, the large weight of cattle, are treated by cleaning the hooves with an antiseptic (hydrogen peroxide, Chlorhexidine), wound-healing ointments and antibiotics (streptocidal ointment, Levomekol, tetracycline) and applying cotton-gauze bandages.
It is recommended to vaccinate young calves immediately after birth. Check with your local veterinarian for a vaccination plan. Usually, at the age of 1 to 3 months, calves are vaccinated against viral pneumonia, anthrax, foot-and-mouth disease, and rabies.
What to look for when purchasing
It is better to buy Simmental cows yourself, that is, examining each individual before purchasing. Desirable age: 2-3 years. It is not recommended to buy old Simmental cows (over 6 years old). When purchasing, it is recommended to look at the appearance and make sure the health of the animal.
What do you pay attention to when buying Simmentals:
- for color - piebald with white spots on the head, belly, legs;
- the nose and eyelids should be pink (without dark or light spots);
- there should be no discharge near the eyes and nostrils;
- the mouth should have 32 teeth (cows do not have upper incisors);
- legs - parallel to each other, not too wide or too close apart;
- wool - dense, clean, without spots, shiny;
- eyes - clean, sclera - white, pupils - not cloudy;
- udder - cup-shaped, loose, symmetrical, without seals, with visible veins;
- temperature - 38.3 degrees;
- pulse - 57-67 beats per minute;
- respiratory rate - 20 breaths per minute.
Where and at what price to buy Simmentals
Simmental cows can be purchased from local breeding farms or abroad. Young purebred Simmentals - calves, heifers and bulls - are brought from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.The cost of the animal plus transportation will cost 2-3 thousand dollars.
You can buy a purebred cow from local breeders for $800-1000. You can find out who sells Simmentals in a particular area using the Internet.
