Proyecto de Cruzamientos Entre el Ganado Simmental y Holstein- TvAgro por Juan Gonzalo Angel

Twitter @juangangel This is a good-sized breed, with adult bulls measuring 150-158 cm at the withers and an average adult weight of 1,000 kg in Colombia, and cows measuring 138-142 cm with an average adult weight of 750 kg. They are of good length and muscle, characterized by their good posture and closed hooves, which allow for easy movement. These animals exhibit high sexual precocity, complete adaptation to pasture conditions, high longevity, gentleness, excellent maternal ability, and adaptability. Their characteristic colors range from light yellow to dark cherry red. The European Simmental (Fleckvieh) is characterized by its dual purpose—beef and dairy—and the American Simmental, thanks to the selection process, has specialized solely in beef production, while maintaining good maternal ability. In Colombia, pure Simmental bulls are found grazing in all thermal zones from sea level to just over 3,000 meters above sea level. The purebred breeds in our country are found mainly at altitudes of 800 meters above sea level, concentrated in the central region (Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Quindío), the Bogotá savanna (Cundinamarca and Boyacá), and the Antioquia region (North, Southwest, and East Antioquia). Due to its excellent adaptation and extraordinary crossbreeding results with other breeds, it has positioned itself worldwide as the ideal breed for any type of crossbreeding. Dairy Characteristics Much of the breed's economic success is due to its milk performance, as it combines high production, averaging 6,500 kg per 305-day lactation. Today, many cows in Germany produce over 10,000 kg per lactation, with a high fat (4-4.14%) and protein (3.7%) content. This also favors the production of premium-quality cheeses and a premium price for dairy companies that offer additional incentives for quality in terms of total solids content. Females have well-adhered udders, good conformation, and well-sized and well-positioned teats, making milking easier. Simmental cattle are suitable for crossbreeding with other dairy breeds because it improves milk and udder quality without sacrificing quantity. They also have a high resistance to mastitis, reflected in a low somatic cell count. Meat Characteristics Being a dual-purpose breed, the meat component is important. It stands out for its high growth capacity, improved muscle formation, especially in the commercially valuable parts, good meat quality, without excess fat, and an average carcass yield of 58.1%. Average daily weight gains are 1,200 grams per day or more, allowing slaughter weight to be reached at an earlier age and with higher weights than breeds traditionally used in our country. This results in better meat quality, tenderness, and good flavor. At weaning, calves maintain their constant growth curve, gain weight more quickly, are finished at an early age, and achieve greater profitability. Source: http://asosimmental.org/site/index.ph... Juan Gonzalo Angel Restrepo www.tvagro.tv