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Simmental Quebec
The Simmental Québec Revue is published twice yearly, mid-winter in time for the bull sales, and in late summer before the Fall sales.Please let us know if you are not on our mailing list and wish to receive a copy.
Links to our members
- Bar5 Simmental Stock Farms
- Farm Bischof
- M & M Simmentals
- Ranch Leblanc
- Todd Farms
- Weldehaven Farm
Links of interest
- Canadian Simmental Association
- American Simmental Association
- M.A.P.A.Q.
- Agri-Reseau Search engine
- Agri-Traçabilité Québec
- Fédération des Producteurs de Bovins du Québec
- More links of interest...
If you wish to have a link added to this page, please let us know.
Version 2.0 - 02/2007
Breed Information
Simmental is the world-breed for
for milk and beef
The Simmental breed originated in the Simmen valley of the Berner Oberland in Switzerland. From there, the breed spread and established itself in middle Europe more than 100 years ago, and subsequently all over Europe. In Europe, 
Simmental is bred as a dual-purpose beef and dairy breed. Whether they be in Switzerland, France, Austria, Germany, Russia, or in any other country worldwide, all Simmental have a common ancestry, dating from the middle-ages. With the migration of catte herds throughout Europe over time, a diversity of names developed, such as Pie Rouge, Fleckvieh, Fleichvieh autrichien, Roux-blanc, as well as many other local varieties. In Canada, all these types belong to the Simmental appelation and can be entered in the Canadian Simmental Association registry as "SIMMENTAL".
Over the years, the breed's successes have caused it to multiply outside Europe and to prove its adaptability all over the world. 
Presently, it is the breed which is most widespread in Europe and in second place (with more than 50 million heads) world-wide. During the past 25 years, the popularity of the Simmental breed has grown to the point where it has become one of the most sought-after cattle breeds in Canada.
Breed characteristics:
Pasture restrictions in Europe have forced genetic selections in the Simmental breed in order to obtain a maximum performance in meat and milk for a minimal cost in feed. Over the years, the Simmental breed has developed strong and stable hereditary traits, producing animals which are docile, easy to manage, adapt effectively to environmental changes, are fertile, with solid feet and legs, and a well developed muscling, an evenly thick coat and a hide of medium thickness.
The Simmental breed offers all the qualities needed to produce top performance: solid frame, length of body, strong backside and muscling pattern. Teats and udders are well developed without being extreme, to permit an optimal milk production. The coat colours vary from light yellow to dark solid red, and can include ranges of dark tan to spotted white and russet tints. The main colour of the head is white and the shoulders are often marked with a white stripe. Many subjects have goggles around the eye area, which help to reduce ophthalmic problems caused by the effects of direct sunlight.
Ideal for crossbreeding:
The Simmental breed is the best qualified for crossbreeding purposes, as much with British as with Continental breeds. The resulting subjects have an improved growth, with better meat yield. The resulting meat is of top quality with good marbling and leanness. The milk production is enhanced so that calves will grow optimally during the pre-weaning period. 
In crossing with dairy breeds, the calves show better muscling and higher daily gains. Simmental cattle lead the way for growth and performance, and meet requirements of feedlots for fast and efficient weight gains. Crossbred steers are usually the first to achieve the desired finishing weights, which permit the feedlot operators a greater flexibility to profitably market their product.
Leading the way for growth and performance:
The solid muscling of Simmental subjects, their frame, length of body and weight, all contribute to produce a carcass rich in lean red meat with high cutability. The length of body permits a greater variability in possible meat cuts. The average weight of an adult bull varies from 2500 lbs to 3100 lbs 
and a height at withers of 150cm to 165cm. The weight of mature cows averages between 1350 lbs and 2000 lbs with height at withers of 138 to 150 cm. The Simmental animal matures rapidly and can easily attain a weight of 1300 lbs at 12 to 14 months of age. The Simmental carcass offers a high degree of cutability and a meat quality which grades among the best.
Simmental cows have a strong maternal reputation with a production of milk high in butterfat and protein. Milk production averages at about 4000 L per year, even in mountain climates with harsh winters. Approximately 20% of the Simmental cows registered in the European herdbooks have a milk production exceeding 5000 L per annum. The important milking quality of Simmental cows is a determining factor in the rapid growth and weaning gains of their calves. In Canada, as well as world-wide, Simmental females are known to be among the best mothers of the beef industry.
Simmental cattle are among the cattle breeds having the best adaptability to a wide range of environments. This breed has been raised with success on all continents and its great popularity is a testimony to its unique breeding program on a global basis. Its many outstanding characteristics garantee an excellent quality and profitablity in the production of meat and milk.
In all aspects, Simmental "leads the way" and offers all the importants advantages for your cattle breeding program.
If you are looking for Profit, Efficiency, and Performance... look for Simmental.
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