Simmental breed of cows: description and characteristics, rules of keeping

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 meat. Cows for 15 years of life constantly give from 3.5 to 7 thousand kg of milk in one lactation period. Gobies 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 near the Simma River (Bernese Highlands).They belong to the meat and dairy type. Characteristics: fawn (light brown) color with white spots, huge long rectangular torso, muscular body, short legs, high attached udder.

There are Simmental cows with horns and polled ones. These are record-breaking animals among cattle in terms of slaughter meat yield and milk yield. The Simmental breed was bred by folk selection. The ancestors of these animals are cattle from Scandinavia. In the 5th century, work began to improve the breed. In the middle of the 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 unpretentious care. In Russia and Ukraine, the Simmental cow appeared only at the end of the 19th century.

In 1926 the breed was officially registered, indicating its characteristic features. It is not considered a major defect if the calves are not fawn, but reddish-motley.

On the basis of Simmentals, new breeds have been bred in breeding farms (Montbéliarde, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Slovak Pied, Fleckfie). German livestock specialists have been breeding more productive types of Simmental cows for more than 100 years. These animals are adored by farmers in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse. Heifers of purebred seedlings from Germany cost 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, motley (fawn-white);
body length - 161-165cm;
height at the withers - 134-141 cm;
weight of cows - 555-650 kg;
weight of bulls - 905-1200 kg;
weight of newborn calves - 35-45 kg;
there are breeds with horns and polled;
body wide, rectangular, long;
head big with wide forehead;
neck short;
back straight;
the skin is thick and strong;
legs short;
muscular body;
udder rounded, raised, nipples cylindrical;
chest deep and large, loins wide;
nose and eyelids are rosy (no blemishes).

In Simmental cows, the color is sometimes reddish (red) or red-white. Animals are characterized by a large muscular body, high productivity and rapid weight gain. A cow gives about 15-18 liters of milk per day. Every year, the female gives birth to 1-2 calves.

Simmental young bulls are very much appreciated. They are bought for fattening for meat. In the first months of life, Simmental (simental) calves grow rapidly, gaining almost 1000-1300 grams of weight every day.This feature of their body allows you to save feed and quickly get meat products. At 18 months, bulls already weigh 600 kg. The slaughter yield of meat is almost 65 percent.

Main pros and cons

Pros and consversatility (bred for milk and meat);rapid weight gain, regular pregnancy;high immunity;adaptability to any weather conditions;high milk yield (5-7 thousand kg per lactation period) and slaughter meat yield (more than 58%);prolonged lactation;milk fat content - 4.09%, protein content - 3.46%;calm temperament;used to improve dairy breeds;may be on stall and pasture content;during the warm period of the year they can be kept on pasture 24 hours a day.has a tendency to such a pathology of the limbs as an elephant's foot;when kept on a dirty bedding, females suffer from mastitis;heifers mature for a long time (readiness for mating occurs at 24 months of age).

Content rules

Simmental cows can adapt to any climate. The main thing is to keep the cattle clean, on a dry litter and provide high-quality feed. Simmentals do not conflict with other animals, but they need their own place in the barn.

Cows are kept indoors, where the temperature is maintained at 15-20 degrees all year round, ventilation is provided, there is a nursery for hay, a feeder and a drinker.

In the warm season, Simmentals are recommended to graze in the meadow. In snow and frost, it is better to keep animals indoors, but be sure to walk daily on a walking area or near a barn. Cows are fed 2-3 times a day, 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 get udder mastitis. Cattle should be kept in a clean, dry, ventilated, but draft-free room. It is desirable to equip a walking area near the barn so that the cows go for a walk at any time of the year. The walking area can be protected from precipitation by a canopy.

Animals need to be provided with food and water. Cows should eat and drink plenty. 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. It is recommended to give preparations for intestinal parasites and lice every six months.

Diet

It is recommended to graze cows in the pasture throughout the warm period. It is desirable to keep cattle in stalls only in winter. On a day, one cow eats up to 50 kg of grass and drinks almost 30 liters of water. For the winter, the animal needs to prepare 0.5 tons of hay. Cows are driven out to the pasture in early spring, when the height of the grass reaches 15 cm. The preferred vegetation is legume-grass.

The main food of these ruminants is fresh grass in summer and hay in winter. As a top dressing, Simmentals are allowed to give finely chopped vegetables, fruits, grain mixtures, compound feed. In winter, animals can be fed with silage, straw. In winter, it is recommended to give simmentals pharmacy vitamin and mineral preparations and sweet water. A Simmental cow should eat 20-50 grams of s alt daily.

Breeding

Puberty in the Simmental breed occurs at 20 months. True, females mate a little later. Usually, Simmental cows are inseminated (naturally or artificially) at 24-25 months, that is, at the age of two years. Pregnancy lasts 9 months. A pregnant cow is transferred to dead wood and gradually begin to run. 2 months before the birth of the calves, the female stops milking.

Simmental births are easy, the female gives birth on her own. He althy calves weighing 35-45 kilograms are born into the world. Newborns can cut the umbilical cord and treat it with iodine, clean the nostrils from mucus.

After birth, the afterbirth comes out of the uterus. It is advisable to remove the place from the barn so that the cow does not eat it, otherwise there may be problems with digestion.

Newborns can be fed colostrum for up to 30 minutes after birth. Small calves eat 5 times a day.Over time, the number of feedings is reduced (up to three times a day). After each meal, colostrum is milked so that the cow milks faster and more milk enters the udder.

At one month old, calves should already be drinking liquid from a bucket. Milk can be gradually diluted with water. In the first 4 months of life, calves are kept by their mother. Cubs are fed with mother's milk, gradually accustoming to grass. At this age, calves grow rapidly, gaining almost 1 kilogram in weight daily. The cow recovers well after childbirth, during this period she is given succulent feed. It is desirable that the next calving occurs after 380 days.

Diseases and their treatment

Simmental breed of cattle has good immunity. True, with improper and poor-quality nutrition and errors in care, animals get sick. Diseases are mainly caused by humans (if cows are poorly cared for, vaccinations are not done on time).

Common diseases and treatments:

tympania (bloating, accumulation of gases) - occurs when using legumes and large amounts of water, is treated by protruding the tongue out, inserting a probe into the esophagus, infusing fresh milk, vodka solution, dill tincture, Tympanol;
mastitis (udder disease) - occurs when the rules for keeping and milking cows are violated, udder tissues are injured, it is treated by transferring from succulent feed to hay, limiting watering, frequent milking and freeing the udder from the contents, to facilitate milking, "Oxytocin" is prescribed , "Pituitrin", 1-2% solution of sodium bicarbonate, antibiotics are injected with inflammation;
hoof diseases - occur as a result of keeping on wet and dirty bedding, large weight of cattle, are treated by cleaning the hooves with an antiseptic (hydrogen peroxide, "Chlorhexidine"), wound healing ointments and antibiotics (streptocid ointment, "Levomekol", tetracycline) and applying cotton-gauze bandages.

Young calves are recommended to be vaccinated immediately after birth. Contact your local veterinarian for a vaccination plan. Calves are usually vaccinated against viral pneumonia, anthrax, foot-and-mouth disease, and rabies between the ages of 1 and 3 months.

What to look for when buying

It is better to buy Simmental cows on your own, that is, inspecting each individual before buying. Desirable age - 2-3 years. It is not recommended to buy old Simmental cows (over 6 years old). When buying, it is recommended to look at the appearance and make sure the he alth of the animal.

What they pay attention to when buying Simmentals:

on color - piebald with white spots on the head, belly, legs;
nose and eyelids should be pink (no dark or light spots);
there should be no discharge near the eyes and nostrils;
Mouth should have 32 teeth (cows don't have upper incisors);
legs - parallel to each other, not too wide or close apart;
wool - dense, clean, without lichen spots, shiny;
eyes - clear, sclera - white, pupils - not cloudy;
udder - cup-shaped, loose, symmetrical, no 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 bought 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 thoroughbred cow from local breeders for 800-1000 dollars. You can find out who sells Simmentals in a particular area using the Internet.