Simbra / Simbrah
Breeding the Best ... Better
The Simbra is a hardy, smooth-coated, well adapted breed, with virile, hard-muscled, growthy bulls and feminine, fertile, highly functional cows.
Simbra, bred out of the Simmentaler and Brahman, combines the characteristics of these two wonderful breeds. The main aim in developing the Simbra breed was to breed a type of cattle that will meet different market requirements and/or environmental conditions. The race to prove and improve the genetic value of carcass traits is well underway in the beef industry. Simbra breeders have shown their commitment to genetic advancement of meat quality by implementing new technology and research and move into a leadership position within the beef industry.
A century of breeding and genetic selection to establish and stabilise the unique breed characteristics of the Simmentaler (fertility, growth potential and milking ability) and of the Brahman (heat tolerance, hardiness, adaptability and tick resistance)
Simbra, bred out of the Simmentaler and Brahman, combines the characteristics of these two wonderful breeds. The main aim in developing the Simbra breed was to breed a type of cattle that will meet different market requirements and/or environmental conditions. The race to prove and improve the genetic value of carcass traits is well underway in the beef industry. Simbra breeders have shown their commitment to genetic advancement of meat quality by implementing new technology and research and move into a leadership position within the beef industry.
A century of breeding and genetic selection to establish and stabilise the unique breed characteristics of the Simmentaler (fertility, growth potential and milking ability) and of the Brahman (heat tolerance, hardiness, adaptability and tick resistance)
History
The evolutionary development of the Simbra’s parent-breeds differs greatly. The Simmental from central Europe, adapted to long cold winters and used for both milk and beef. Zebu cattle, the genetic pool from which the Brahman breed derived, originate in India in an environment of heat, humidity, diseases and parasites.
When Simmental semen was imported for the first time into the USA in the 60’s, breeders in Texas used it on the Brahman and the performance of the half-blood cross was without parallel. (Groomes, 1998). That was the birth of the Simbrah (with a “h”) and the first animal was registered by the American Simmental Association in 1977.
The outstanding performance of Simmental/Brahman crosses was also the reason why the Simmentaler Association of Southern Africa decided in the 80’s to change their constitution in order to facilitate the Simbra. The first F1’s were registered in 1986 (bull Nestau 851 and heifer Lichtenstein L135 – both ¾ X ¼ ).
When Simmental semen was imported for the first time into the USA in the 60’s, breeders in Texas used it on the Brahman and the performance of the half-blood cross was without parallel. (Groomes, 1998). That was the birth of the Simbrah (with a “h”) and the first animal was registered by the American Simmental Association in 1977.
The outstanding performance of Simmental/Brahman crosses was also the reason why the Simmentaler Association of Southern Africa decided in the 80’s to change their constitution in order to facilitate the Simbra. The first F1’s were registered in 1986 (bull Nestau 851 and heifer Lichtenstein L135 – both ¾ X ¼ ).
Hybrid Vigour
In developing the Simbra breed it was aimed to optimally use the differences between the Simmentaler and Brahman and also to retain hybrid vigour (heterosis) in future generations without continuous cross-breeding. Hybrid vigour can be defined as the increased performance of a composite breed relative to the two pure-bred parents. The challenge of maintaining hybrid vigour and minimising inbreeding in composite breeds (such as the Simbra) can only be met by large
populations of cattle.
Bulls
Some of the advantages of using Simbra bulls:
• Maintaining and retaining hybrid vigour.
• A high quality product for the market.
• The Simbra can easily match a uniform biological type (in terms of size, milk production, growth and body composition) for a specific type of environment in which it can be cost-effective, easy to manage and profitable.
• Simbra adapt easily to different environments and management systems.
• Maintaining and retaining hybrid vigour.
• A high quality product for the market.
• The Simbra can easily match a uniform biological type (in terms of size, milk production, growth and body composition) for a specific type of environment in which it can be cost-effective, easy to manage and profitable.
• Simbra adapt easily to different environments and management systems.
History
- It is a tough, smooth-coated breed that resists tick-borne diseases and can withstand heat.
- It produces beef efficiently and can walk far to forage, making it ideal for grazing under extreme conditions.
- The cows are fertile, are good mothers, and wean heavy calves.
Twelve reasons to breed with Simbra
1) Become a breeder of one of the fastest growing breeds of cattle in Southern Africa.
2) You will be visited once a year by one of our technical advisors during which the selection of replacement heifers, reproduction status of the herd, selection of the right bulls and genetic progress will be discussed.
3) Purchase animals (with the assistance of technical advisors) and/or begin by presenting your own Simbra type cow for inclusion as an F1 cum.
4) A very large gene pool and genetic variations are available.
5) We as a society have a focused, practical breeding programme with an open herdbook approach.
6) Which Simbra breed combination? The breeder himself decides which Simmentaler/Brahman breed combination will perform the best in his specific environment.
7) Multi-bull matings can be used in the breeding of F1 and F2.
8) Technical Advisors evaluate all the animals on a farm before the registration of animals can take place. Evaluation is based on phisical appearance and breeding values.
9) You will enjoy voluntary participation in the world’s most advanced beef cattle performance testing system.
10) Pedigrees, breeding value, genetic indices, general information and much more is available at www.simbra.org
11) You will have the opportunity to breed with two breeds at the cost of one membership.
12) Your registration, performance and annual visit to a herd of 100 animals by a technical advisor is less than one and a half culled weaners per year.
2) You will be visited once a year by one of our technical advisors during which the selection of replacement heifers, reproduction status of the herd, selection of the right bulls and genetic progress will be discussed.
3) Purchase animals (with the assistance of technical advisors) and/or begin by presenting your own Simbra type cow for inclusion as an F1 cum.
4) A very large gene pool and genetic variations are available.
5) We as a society have a focused, practical breeding programme with an open herdbook approach.
6) Which Simbra breed combination? The breeder himself decides which Simmentaler/Brahman breed combination will perform the best in his specific environment.
7) Multi-bull matings can be used in the breeding of F1 and F2.
8) Technical Advisors evaluate all the animals on a farm before the registration of animals can take place. Evaluation is based on phisical appearance and breeding values.
9) You will enjoy voluntary participation in the world’s most advanced beef cattle performance testing system.
10) Pedigrees, breeding value, genetic indices, general information and much more is available at www.simbra.org
11) You will have the opportunity to breed with two breeds at the cost of one membership.
12) Your registration, performance and annual visit to a herd of 100 animals by a technical advisor is less than one and a half culled weaners per year.