The British Simmental Review 2022

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TECHNICALSIMMENTAL MATERNALTRAITS CAN BEKEY FOR SUCKLERCOW EFFICIENCYAND PROFITABILITYHere Lesley Wylie, Beef Specialist, SAC Consulting, takes a lookat the key maternal traits required for suckler beef profitability,and highlights what the role of the Simmental breed in sucklercows may be in the forward industry.52 | www.britishsimmental.co.uk
TECHNICALThe popularity of the Simmental breed has increasedconsiderably in recent years, with a 13.5% increase in pedigreeregistrations and 19.8% increase in birth notifications in thelast 12 months. Whilst this only indicates pedigree calves born, thedemand for this breed will be filtering down into the commercialsector due to the many positive attributes that the Simmental breedcan bring to the suckler cow.The high cull cow values seen this year, alongside profitabilitychallenges, have encouraged farmers to clear out those older orproblematic cows that perhaps don’t suit their system anymore. Thishas provided a great opportunity to rethink what the ideal sucklercow looks like for their system, that is perhaps one that is less relianton inputs but still producing a marketable animal, be that store orfinished.From a maternal point of view the Simmental breed ‘s influence ona suckler cow is clear to see in the milkiness of the cows, helping toproduce calves with strong weaning weights and less reliance on thefeed bag to get to these weights.With labour availability on farms continuing to be a challenge, there isa real need for docile cows that can calve down with little interventionthat produce calves that get up and suckle quickly, again with verylittle assistance.Fertility is key to suckler beef profitability with UK average weaningpercentages at around 85%, yet the cattle and sheep enterpriseprofitability booklet produced by QMS each year shows that tobreakeven suckler producers need to wean nearly 92 calves per 100cows. Therefore, the breed needs to ensure that these cows, whilstproducing a live calf, need to get back in calf in quickly, with relativelyshort bulling periods.Most breeds have been guilty of chasing 400-day weight figures,leading to larger mature weights. However, one problem with thisis that a high 400-day weight EBV tends to lead to increased calvingdifficulties, another is that finishers are reporting that some of thesecattle are harder to get the desired level of finish on, as they just keepgrowing and struggle to lay down adequate fat levels.From an emissions perspective reducing cow size by 10% wouldreduce emissions due to the lower feed and fertiliser requirements thecow would have.Many producers argue that a larger cow gives you a higher cull valuebut if she is costing you more every year to keep than a smaller cow itis a false economy. Looking at a 200-day winter, a 600kg cow requires75MJ ME per day which is 2,600 MJ ME over the winter less than a750kg cow that requires 88MJ ME per day. Financially this could resultin a potential saving of £34,200 for a herd of 100 cows based on760kg less silage per cow (based on silage cost of £45/t FW).At a time when feed costs are exceptionally high and the end markethas implemented weight limits, it makes sense to consider where theoptimum mature cow size is for the breed, to ensure it can producesuckler cows with relatively low maintenance requirements that arealso easy fleshing.From a terminal point of view the growth rates of Simmentalscontinue to be strong and this has resulted in the breed being jointtop (alongside Charolais) of the leaderboard for the December 2022AHDB National Beef evaluations Days to Slaughter EBVs. This trait isimportant for two reasons:1. Farm profitability – good growth rates and better use of feedresults in less days to slaughter, which decreases the costs to finishthat animal.2. Carbon footprint – it is well documented that reducing age ofslaughter to 18 months from 24 months will reduce methaneemissions from beef by around 10%.Looking to the future, the breed needs to maintain its strong maternaltraits and be careful not to over select on muscle or 400-day weights,which would have a detrimental effect on fertility and ease offinishing. If fertility, milk, calving ease and other important maternaltraits are lost in favour of terminal genetics, then they may take manygenerations to get back.Improved grassland management with help with lower costproduction systems in suckler enterprises and with that we need cattlethat can utilise the grass well and still maintain strong growth rates.The industry is currently one of the most scrutinised sectors whichcontinues to face many societal and environmental challenges.There is continued pressure on the viability of livestock, food securityconcerns and the role they play in the environment, biodiversity andwhat effect they have on carbon emissions.lesley.wylie@sac.co.ukThe Review 2022 | 53
Page 1 and 2: SIMMENTAL2022THE REVIEWSIMMENTAL BU
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Page 7 and 8: 132188348512610916926Alnham Farm Fe
Page 9 and 10: COUNCILMEMBERS 2023Mr Norman Robson
Page 11 and 12: sales were held throughout the regi
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Page 17 and 18: David: 07841 748 764Jonny: 07738 44
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Page 23 and 24: NEWSOVERHILL HOUSE SIMMENTAL HEIFER
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Page 45 and 46: BULL BUYERS'SURVEYJust over 70% of
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Page 51: TECHNICALGeneticsSelecting animals
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Page 59 and 60: GOLDEN COWAWARDIntroduced in 2018,
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Page 67 and 68: LOOKING TO BUILD ASIMMENTAL FUTURES
Page 69 and 70: Welcome toNew MembersGreat to see n
Page 71 and 72: FAREWELL TO DEAR FRIENDSBull Sale.
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NI Simmental National ShowSHOWSInte
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English Simmental National ShowSHOW
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English Simmental National ShowSHOW
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Scottish Simmental National ShowSHO
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Scottish Simmental National ShowSHO
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Borderway Calf ShowSHOWSThe Reserve
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Stars of the Future Pedigree Calf S
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English Winter FairSHOWSPopes Weike
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Livescot Pedigree Calf ShowSHOWSSPR
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NI Simmental Calf ShowSHOWSof a cle
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Welsh Pedigree Calf ShowSHOWSStandi
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QPAdvertQPAdvertHPAdvertThe Review
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Phil & James TurnerOver half a cent
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“In addition, we’ve always inve
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SIMMENTALSALES 2023Show & Sale of b
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Talk to Harry Sordy about the Sordy
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Outwintering at Alnham Farm: three
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AREA CLUB OFFICERSCHAIRPERSONSECRET
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REGIONAL CLUB REPORTSContracting; D
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REGIONAL CLUB REPORTSUp at Stirling
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REGIONAL CLUB REPORTSBorderway Agri
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REGIONAL CLUB REPORTSMay Sale 2022
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REGIONAL CLUB REPORTSMr Kelly with
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REGIONAL CLUB REPORTSThe Club’s a
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REGIONAL CLUB REPORTSof the Chester
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REGIONAL CLUB REPORTSWith covid res
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REGIONAL CLUB REPORTSHerd competiti
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REGIONAL CLUB REPORTSLaunceston sho
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REGIONAL CLUB REPORTSAfter three at
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OUR TEAM COLLECT AN AVERAGE OF 6 EM
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REGIONAL CLUB REPORTSSteve & Lorrai
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FARM FACTSHall Farm,Rugby, Warks•
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After a calf is born,and its sire o
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SALESSALEREPORTS2022The Review 2022
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Stirling FebruarySALESThe May 2020
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Stirling FebruarySALESPurchasing th
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Dungannon / Melton Mowbray MarchSAL
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Stirling MaySALESeasy calving femal
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Worcester MaySALEScarries a lot of
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Carlisle MaySALESJudge Ian Wainwrig
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Stirling OctoberSALES28,000GNS ISLA
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Stirling OctoberSALESof the continu
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Stirling OctoberSALESDutton, Lancas
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NXTGEN II Carlisle DecemberSALESBra
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NXTGEN II Carlisle DecemberSALESeig
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SIMMENTALSBROOMBRAE MAJOR SOLD TO C
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Semen for Private Sale from Society
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Calving Ease (cows)GENUS ABSBREED A
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Dirnanean Bradley (M076366) Mr J Gr
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Amended or Replacement Pedigree Cer
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The British Simmental Review 2022

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