|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Breed: Simmental:
- The Simmental was officially establish in the Swiss Canton of Berne in
the 1800s (the first herdbook), but there is evidence that this type of cattle had been in
existence for hundreds of years before that.
- The name Simmental is derived from the location of the origin of the breed --
the Simme Valley of Switzerland.
- Simmental means Simme Valley in German.
- Simmental are large, mostly red with some white (often on the face, lower legs, and chest and belly).
- They can also be solid red, solid black, solid white, and spotted skewbald.
- Simmental are known for their rapid development, outstanding production of milk, butter, and
cheese, and for their use as draught animals.
- The males stand nearly 5 feet high at the withers and weigh, on average, 2300 pounds.
- The females are about 4 1/2 feet high and weigh around 1600 pounds.
- They also have good mothering instincts, and are strong and rugged.
- There are Simmental cattle on all continents, except Antartica, and between 40 and 60 million
Simmental world-wide.
- Simmental first came to the US in the 1880's but did not become popular until the 1960's.
Sources:
A Field Guide to Cows, by John Pukite, Falcon Press, Helena, Montana, 1996, pp. 42-43.
and OSH's Breeds of Livestock -
Simmental Cattle page.
|
|
