Simmental breed of cows - features of the breed, pluses and minuses of the content

One of the oldest on the planet Simmental breed of cows is bred in Switzerland in the valley of the Simma River. In the process of selection, by the middle of the 19th century, livestock had become a highly productive meat and milk species, widely distributed in Europe. In Russia, the Simmentals were brought in at the end of the 19th century.

Simmental breed of cows - a characteristic

Universal simmentals are bred on all the continents of the world, as they allow farmers to simultaneously have a lot of milk and meat. Burenki are unpretentious to food and the atmosphere of content. The description of Simmental breed of cows contains such characteristics:

1. Excellent adaptation - the burrs feel great in extreme conditions.
2. This cattle is suitable for grazing on slopes and slopes.
3. Simmentals have strong legs and hooves, resistant to abrasion.
4. These cows are restless, complaisant and capricious in food. At the time of shortage of food, they willingly eat straw, while maintaining fruitfulness and health.
5. Swiss Burenki have a peaceable nature, are distinguished by excellent maternal instincts. Genera in them, as a rule, proceed without complications. The breed is early-maturing, the age of primary calving is 31 months.

Characteristics of the Simmental breed

Brief characteristics of the Simmental breed:

1. The color of the cows is pale-mottled, pale, sometimes red. A number of white-headed red animals or red-motley individuals are found.
2. Horned have a muscle body, a powerful and heavy bone. The cows are large, the growth at the withers is 136-148 cm, the body is wide, 160-165 cm long.
3. Simmentals differ massive solid head with a large forehead.
4. Horns - beige, developed normally, nose - gently pink.
5. The tribe is notable for its mighty sternum and low, strong legs. The chest is deep (67-73 cm), wide (44-48 cm), with a large girth and a developed bosom of the bulls.
6. Mature individuals weigh 550-650 kg, males - 900-1200 kg, they finish growth to 4-5 years.

Types of Simmental breed of cows

The universal Simmental breed of cows refers to the types of meat-and-milk (combined) line of productivity - it gives milk and meat in significant amounts. With the use of simmentals, a number of cattle breeds have been bred - red Sadovskaya, Hungarian variegated, Bulgarian red, Slovak red-mottled, monkeybirds and fleks.

Simmental breed of cows - pros and cons

Farmers prefer Simmental breed of cows among other samples of cattle due to the advantages of burenoks:

1. The breeding of the Simmental breed is beneficial, it gives in parallel highly developed two orientations of the economy - milk and meat.
2. Unfamiliarity in the fodder of calves and adults.
3. A prolonged cycle of milk feeding of young animals, which reduces the cost of calf feeds.
4. Easy adaptation to the content environment.
5. Excellent fruitfulness, which has become an excellent genetic fund when crossing with other horned cattle.
6. Serenity of animals, their complaisance and good health.
7. Long life expectancy, the individual has excellent figures for productivity, even at the age of 12-14.

Of the shortcomings it is sometimes noted:

1. Wrong setting of limbs - on the back "elephant leg", and on the front - inverted outwards.
2. Weak development of the front quarter of the udder.
3. The back of the neck.
4. Slightly developed chest wide.
5. Occasionally, the "fatty udder" is noted.

Productivity of Simmental breed

Milk of this breed has an excellent taste, is characterized by a high proportion of protein, perfect for making cheeses. Burenki can boast of excellent milking. How many Simmental breeds give milk: 3.5 - 5 tons per year, with a good ration - up to 6 tons, records are 12-14 tons. Fat content - about 4% (up to 6%). Productivity of one animal is 15 years, during which it is possible to get about 52 tons of milk with stable cycles of lactation.

Mature animals increase their weight quickly and symmetrically, with a maximum of 1300 kg of bull calves. Cows weigh between 500 and 1000 kg. At slaughter, the fattened tribe gives 56% of the meat from their weight, and the bulls even more - up to 65%. Beef is distinguished by its excellent quality, high caloric content, has soft soft fibers and fat content of up to 12%.

Fattening of Simmental bull calves

Simmentals have long proven themselves as a breed with a high rate of mass gain throughout the growth period. Calves are formed large, 35-45 kg, increase their weight by the age of six months no less than 4 times. Young growth is easy - animals are viable, do not need to create an extraordinary environment for development and increased attention.

To obtain meat, farmers are advised to fatten Simmental bull calves. When they are in the stall they can add 1-1.1 kg per day to the mass. At the age of 12 months the weight of the bull calves is almost 400 kg, the calf per year weighs 100 kg less. The first 8 weeks of the calf are fed only with dairy products. From 3-6 months the pet needs a lot of protein, as forage is useful for grain, hay in abundance (in summer green juicy grass), vegetables. In 15-20 months of the young males, grown for fattening, and the rejected calves are sent to slaughter.