Simmental - Origins & Characteristics

The breed, which today called Simmental Fleckvieh has its origin in the Simmen Valley in Switzerland. In the middle of the 18th Century the first bulls were exported from the Simmental to central Europe and the breed Fleckvieh was developed from crossbreeding with existing indigenous breeds.

In the last decade of the last century and first decades of this century the breed was utilised for milk, beef and draught purposes in Europe and for extensive beef production in Namibia and South Africa. In the late sixties and during the decade between 1970 and 1980 the breed, which had been changed to a dual-purpose breed for milk and beef, established itself on all the continents.

The old name Fleckvieh, current in Europe, was internationally changed to Simmental to make clear the origin of the breed. The breed is still bred as a milk-beef dual purpose breed in central European countries. In the Americas, Australasia, certain European Simmental countries and Africa the breed is mainly used for beef production. Simmental cattle have proved very successful in crossbreeding with beef breeds to improve growth and milk performance. This results in improved growth, more muscling and market acceptance. Simmentals, when used in crossbreeding on dairy breeds improve the muscularity and beefing quality.

Simmental cattle are of quiet temperament, healthy, hardy and show an excellent adaptability to the different geographical and climate conditions.

Easy calving, regular fertility and a long productive life are, besides the high performance potential for milk and beef, the basis for efficient production.

There are polled lines in the Simmental breed, which are further developed in breeding