A History of the Simmental Breed
Although the first herd
book was established in the Swiss Canton of Berne in 1806, there is
evidence of large, productive red and white cattle found much earlier
in ecclesiastical and secular property records of Western Switzerland.
These red and white animals were highly sought
because of their "rapid growth development; outstanding production
of milk, butter, and cheese; and for their use as draught animals."
they were known for their imposing stature and excellent dairy qualities.
As early as 1785, the Swiss Parliament limited
exports because of a shortage of cattle to meet their own needs. The
Swiss "Red and White Spotted Simmental Cattle Association" was formed
in 1890.
Since its origin in Switzerland, the breed
has spread to all six continents. Total numbers are estimated between
40 and 60 million Simmental cattle world-wide. More than half of these
are in Europe.
The spread was gradual until the late 1960s.
Records show that a few animals were exported to Italy as early as
the 1400s.
During the 19th century, Simmental were distributed
through most of Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Russia, ultimately
reaching South Africa in 1895. Guatemala imported the first Simmental
into the Western Hemisphere in 1897, with Brazil following suite in
1918 and Argentina in 1922.
There are reports from a variety of sources
indicating that Simmental cattle arrived in the United States before
the turn of the century. Simmental were reported as early as 1887
in Illinois, according to one source; in 1895 in New Jersey; and in
both New York and New Mexico around the 1916 to 1920 period.
An ad in an 1896 issue of the Breeder's Gazette,
published in Chicago, also made reference to "Simmenthal" cattle.
However, those early imports did not capture the attention of the
American cattleman and the Simmental influence died quietly away until
the late 1960s.
The breed made its most recent appearance
in North America when a Canadian, named Travers Smith, imported the
famed bull "Parisien" from France in 1967.
Semen was introduced into the United States
that same year, with the first half-blood Simmental calf born in February
of 1968. The American Simmental Association was formed in October
of 1968. Simmental spread to Great Britain, Ireland, and Norway in
1970 and to Sweden and other Northern European countries shortly thereafter.
The first purebred bull imported into the United
States in 1971 and Australia received Simmental semen and live animals
in 1972. The World Simmental Federation was formed in 1974. In 1976
Simmental cattle were shipped to the Peoples' Republic of China.
The breed is known by a variety of names,
including "Fleckvieh" in Germany, "PieRouge", "Montbeliard", and "Abondance"
in France; and "Peseta Rosa" in Italy. The Simmental name is derived
from their original location, the Simme Valley of Switzerland. In
German, Thal or Tal means valley, thus the name literally means "Simme
Valley".
The amazing growth of Simmental cattle in
North America is really a reflection of what has already occurred
in most agricultural countries of the world. Presently, the American
Simmental Association registered about 80,000 cattle annually into
the Simmental and Simbrah herdbooks.
The Association ranks among the top four of
the U.S. beef breed associations in annual registrations.
Information and photographs provided by the
American Simmental Association, One Simmental Way, Bozeman, MT 59715
