Simmental

With more than 40 million cattle worldwide, Simmental are one of the most popular beef breeds globally. Semen was first imported into Australia in 1972, with cattle arriving in New Zealand the same year as part of a program to enhance beef production.

Since then, Australian breeders have developed Simmental lines well adapted to local environments and production systems. The herd book now includes traditional, red, black and SimAngus types.

Simmental are known for rapid weight gain, high-yielding carcasses, fertility, calving ease, strong maternal traits and quiet temperament.

Genomic Testing for the Simmental Cattle Industry

We are proud to offer Simmental breeders with affordable, accessible and accurate genomic testing solutions. We invest in cutting-edge technologies that empower producers to make breeding decisions that are faster, smarter, and more profitable.

Our services are available to Australian Simmental Breeders Association members, non-members and Commercial producers looking to make informed breeding and management decisions.

Simmental Testing Options

Cattle Parentage Verification

Cattle parentage testing uses DNA analysis to accurately identify the sire and dam of an animal. By comparing genetic markers from calves and potential parents, the test provides a reliable confirmation of pedigree, helping producers to:

• Improve breeding accuracy
• Preserves the integrity of breeding records
• Enables efficient herd management
• Identifies underperforming animals, educating culling decisions
• Long term genetic improvement within herds

Bovine VERSA 85K

85,000 SNPs of specifically selected Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus content for Australian and New Zealand operations. The Bovine VERSA 85K has been developed to increase accuracies for all breeds of cattle when used in genetic evaluations, translating directly into real value on farm.

Devon Trait Analysis

Benefits: 

Identifying traits to inform management decisions and increase overall productivity.

• Reduce and/or eradicate
  - Fatal Disease
  - Unwanted traits

• Increase 
  - Valuable traits

Simmental Specific Traits On Offer:

• Coat Colour (Black & Red)
• Contractural Arachnodactyly (CA)
• Neuropathic Hydrocephalus (NH)
• Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM)
• Developmental Duplication (DD)
• Coat Colour Dilutor PMEL17 delTTC
• Retinitis Pigmentosa
• Arachnomelia Syndrome MOCS1
• Bovine Hereditary Zinc Deficiency
• Bovine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency
• Braunvieh Haplotype 2
• Cardiomyopathy Dilated
• Fleckvieh Haplotype 4 (embryonic loss),
• Holstein Cholesterol Deficiency
• Idiopathic Male subfertility
• Mulefoot G1199S
• Retinitis Pigmentosa
• Thrombopathia
• Tibial Hemimelia Improver

Simmental Bundle

• Bovine VERSA 85K
•  Parentage Verification
• Horn/Poll
• Coat Colour (Black & Red)

Weatherbys Extended Simmental Bundle

• Bovine VERSA 85K
• Parentage Verification
• Horn/Poll
• Coat Colour (Black & Red)
• Contractural Arachnodactyly (CA)
• Arthrogryposis multiplex (AM)
• Developmental duplication (DD)
• Neuropathic Hydrocephalus (NH)

Integrate your Data into Simmental EPDs

The Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VERSA 85K SNP Chip is an excellent fit for integration into IGS for the Simmental breed, enabling the calculation of Estimate Progeny Differences (EPDs). An EPD is the genetic merit of an animal’s progeny – what they will pass onto their progeny.

Estimate Progeny Differences provide key advantages, including:

• Greater accuracy in selection decisions – Improve the reliability of EPDs by incorporating high-resolution genomic data.
• Earlier selection opportunities – Confidently select young animals based on accurate genomic predictions before performance data is available.
• Selection across more traits – Include traits that are difficult or impossible to measure on-farm, or before animals enter the breeding herd, within your decision-making process.

By enabling more accurate selection, at younger ages, and across a wider range of traits, the VERSA 85K SNP Chip supports faster genetic progress and ultimately enhances productivity and profitability within a Simmental breeding operation.

Traits currently analysed through the Simmental IGS Evaluation include:

Maternal Traits

• Birth Weight
• Calving Ease
• Milk
• Maternal Weaning Weight 

Growth Indicators

• Weaning Weight
• Yearling Weight

Carcase Quality Measures

• Carcase Weight
• Rib Eye Area
• Yield Grade
• Marble Score

Others

• Docility
• Stayability

For more information on the IGS Evaluation and EPDs, please visit the Simmental Australia website: https://simmental.com.au/category/technical-articles/