This guide will cover in depth how to identify modern Simmental and Fleckvieh cows.
Steps
Step 1. Do an internet search or browse a trade magazine for pictures of some "Simmental" cows
Step 2. Study the images and characteristics of the breed
Keep the following in mind:
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Color:
most Simmentals have a white face and a reddish-brown body. They do not have white stripes along the nape, like the Herefords, although some Simmentals still have a little white on the tip of the chest. Some Simmentals are completely black, while others are completely brown or reddish. Still others may be completely black or red, except for the white muzzle. The most important thing to remember when trying to distinguish a Simmental from a Hereford is the ears: all Simmentals will have ears the same color as the body.
- A Fleckvieh will vary in colors, starting from a light / yellowish deerskin to a reddish-brownish color. They will have a white muzzle that will almost always form a border along the jaw line; the belly will also be white. Some may have a brown spot on both eyes; others only on one. They may have traces of white along the hips and elbows, forming a stripe that goes up from the back of the elbows and hips and reaches the top. Many Fleckvieh cows will have this striped coloration, although some will be more pronounced than others. They will also always have a lot of white on their legs, from the body line to the bottom. Finally, a Fleckvieh's tail will be mostly either completely white or white in the lower half.
- Modern Simmentals tend to have less white than traditional Flckviehs and are also a darker brown, almost red. Most of these animals will have less white on the belly (some will have none at all), with a little white on each leg, especially from the knees and hock down. The white muzzle is a constant, although most will have spots on the eyes and the white may or may not arrive on the horns. Some modern Simmentals may have white stripes running from the shoulders to the elbows, or from the top of the lower back to the hips.
- Purebred or purebred Simmentals can be completely black, red, white and black, black with a white muzzle, or red with a white muzzle. Some will even have a half white and half brown muzzle. Still others will have a completely brown muzzle, with only one or two longitudinal L or I spots along the forehead, up to the mouth. The thoroughbreds, to obtain this typical color, are often mated with the red Angus, the Angus or the Herefords. Typically a Simmental with a black and white face will be the product of an infusion of Angus genes into the traditional breed. Simmentals with red and white faces will result from mating with a red Angus. Some of the Simmentals described in the previous step could be purebred or purebred if they were mixed with Hereford genes.
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Body structure and characteristics:
Simmentals are large animals. Cows can weigh from 544 to 816 kg, while bulls can weigh from 725 to 1270 kg. A Simmental bull will have much more muscle mass on the shoulders and hindquarters than a cow. Both bulls and cows are very massive animals, but they do not have the rectangular appearance typical of Limousines, even if they have the muscular features typical of a continental breed. Simmentals tend to have a softer, drooping dewlap (from chin to chest) than Limousines, Angus or Herefords, and this drooping dewlap almost makes bulls look like they have a goatee. This body trait is very useful in distinguishing this breed from others that have black specimens, such as the Charolais, the Gelvieh, the Maine Anjou, the Salers and the Limousines. Cows tend to have quite large udders (although still smaller than Holsteins), as they have historically been used as dairy cows in the Swiss Alps.
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Head features:
all Simmental bulls have curly hair on their foreheads, which will be more visible in some than in others. The characteristic goatee mentioned above is another characteristic typical of many bulls. A Simmental's head might look as long as a Friesian's, forming a flat surface from the horns to the nose, but they won't have the same elongated mouth as a Friesian. Furthermore, a Simmental will not have as wide a mouth or soft lips as Herefords: her lips will be more jagged and refined. Simmentals may or may not have horns, which are generally rather short and protruding upwards and outwards. However, most modern Simmentals are hornless, as they have been adapted to market needs that want a strong preference for hornless over horned specimens.
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Other characteristics:
Simmentals, although suited to the harsh terrain of the Swiss mountains, are not made for the even more harsh and harsh soils of certain farms, such as Herefords or Angus. Simmentals are known for their calving difficulties and consequently need far more assistance in the calving period than any British breed. However, they are great for fattening farms, even better if crossed with a British breed, and are one of the most popular breeds nowadays in the United States and Canada, along with Angus and Charolais. In addition to their excellent ability to produce milk, they are quite docile and good-natured
Step 3. Memorize the details and characteristics of this breed
Step 4. Take a tour of the countryside and see if you can find any farms or herds with Simmental cows
In Italy, for example, the Pezzate Rosse are widespread, a cross between the Simmental and an old breed of cattle called Friulana. Take photos of the specimens you think are Simmentals and compare them with images found on the internet or in specialized magazines.
Advice
- The Associations dealing with Simmental cows in the United States and Canada foresee 4 different types of this breed: the Fleckvieh, the traditional purebred Simmental whose genetic origins date back to Switzerland; the modern purebred Simmentals; the thoroughbred Simmentals; the purebred Simmentals.
- You may confuse crossed Simmentals with Angus or red Angus. They will often look more like an Angus than a true Simmental.
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In Canada you can find advertisements for some cows called "Super Baldy." These are mainly white-faced Simmental cows crossed with red or white Angus. The H-2 cows, on the other hand, are Simmentals crossed with Herefords (also called hybrid between Hereford and Fleckvieh).
In the United States, however, the "Super Baldy" are Brahman crossed with Simmental or Hereford, or even a mix between Hereford, Simmental and Brahman
- Use ear color, dewlap and musculature as a reference to decipher the differences between an Angus bull and a black Simmental bull. It could be a very difficult undertaking.
Warnings
- Don't confuse the thoroughbred Aberdeen Angus and the red and black Simmentals. It might be difficult, so don't worry - even the most experienced breeders can get confused, especially when it comes to examining a Simmental that looks like an Angus. If so, be especially careful.
- Don't confuse Simmentals with Herefords. Remember to check the musculature, the size, the color of the ears, the presence or absence of white on the neck and the drooping dewlap if you see a Simmental that could be confused with a Hereford.
