Simmentaler Joernaal 2013.indb

Simmentaler - Feed the World
Internasionale Publisiteit | International Hybe
20
The oldest Simmentaler stud
outside Europe thrives in Namibia
Annelie Coleman, Farmer’s Weekly
Stephan Voigts, owner of the historic Voigtland Simmentaler herd in Namibia, explains
that a stud breeder’s breeding objectives should be based on the commercial
cattleman’s requirements. The commercial sector determines the value of any cattle
breed, and that is why the Simmentaler is doing so well in Namibia, he told Annelie Coleman.
According to the Simmentaler and Simbra
Breeders Society’s breeding objectives, Voigtland
Simmentalers are genetically on target. The stud’s
Simdex for fertility for 75+ cows is counted under
the top in Southern Africa.
Stephan Voigts is the great grandson of the Voigtland
Simmentaler Stud’s founder Gustav Voigts, who
bought the farm in 1895. Following the example of his
grandfather Gerhard, who was president of the Namibian
Simmentaler/Simbra Breeders’ Society in 1963, Stephan
is currently the society’s president,
Voigtland is situated 35km east of Windhoek at an altitude
of around 1 850m. The 7 500ha sweetveld farm is divided
into 46 camps with 13 watering points fed by 8 boreholes
through 30km pipeline network. The average annual
rainfall of 350mm fluctuates sharply from year to year.
The stud, run by Stephan and his wife Gaby, consists of a
350-strong female herd that includes 220 breeding cows.
The rest consists of replacement heifers. Stephan, with
a B.Com degree from Unisa, took over the operation in
1995 after farming for five years with his mother Heidi.
The latter managed the stud from 1974 to 1990 after her
husband Henning passed away at a relatively young age.
Stephan initially ran a commercial herd alongside the
stud herd, but in 1998 decided to concentrate on stud
breeding. “It made economic sense. I did not continue
the stud because it was the family tradition, but because
the breed’s performance won’t be easily surpassed in
the extensive area where I farm. I need hardy, strong
animals that thrive on the veld. Most of my clients are
commercial cattlemen. They need well adapted animals
that perform optimally on the veld. Stud breeders often
want to prescribe what the commercial breeder should
buy, but we should rather heed our clients’ needs and
provide genetic prototypes that provide them optimum
profitability,” he stresses.
Fertility is crucial
As Stephan’s enterprise revolves solely around the
Simmentaler stud, fertility is his main breeding objective.
He selects for early maturing fertile cows with enough
milk to wean strong and healthy calves. “No meat without