Econotech Simmentaler

Econotech Simmentaler : Economy through technology and genetics

Breeding philosphy

Beef Economics and World Class Genetics

We at Econotech Simmentaler strive to provide genetics to cattle farmers which will increase their profit margins. Our vision implies the following:

· We farm with animals that are adapted to natural grazing. The Econotech Simmentaler herd developed into medium-frame animals with exceptional hair quality and high fertility.

· Only the very best genetics are used in our stud in order to reach our breeding goals of fertility, calving ease and growth. We, therefore, made extensive use of the following sires:

KyksoKalhei for calving ease;

KwantumProfeet for low birth weight and high growth;

MacararaGanza P for its growth attributes.

· At present the cattle industry is looking for polled cattle in order to reduce labour costs. The first homozygous polled bull in SA, JozetteGonasty PP, is now running on Doornbult, our farm. Gonasty is considered one of the best in SA and sired the 4th most calves in 2009. Furthermore, semen of one of the best full blood red Simmental bulls of the USA, Prostock Hugo PP, is being used. Hugo is also a homozygous polled bull. In the USA Hugo is known for its calving ease and low birth weight and this has also been experienced on Doornbult.

BREED GENETICALLY SUPERIOR ANIMALS ADAPTED TO VELD CONDITIONS

The main marketing factors of Econotech Simmentaler are:

* The extensive grazing conditions on the farm, Doornbult in the Karoo, which are similar to that of most meat producing areas of SA

* The well adapted and fertile herd which has been bred on the farm over years

* The extensive use of breeding values provided by Breedplan for upgrading the stud according to the needs of clients

* The visual correctness of stud animals

* The provision of this knowledge as well as applicable genetics by Econotech to its buyers in order to assist them to improve their herds

* Personal contact with clients

Econotech Simmentaler concentrates on the following attributes:

* Fertility under extensive conditions (average first calf born after 26 months). Two bulls for sale, Roger and Hunt, feature in the top one per cent of the SA 2010 crop regarding scrotum circumference - a major indicator of the fertility of their heifers.

* Calving ease under extensive conditions -its 2007 to 2010 crop of cows have a median Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) for Calving Ease (CED) of 2.7 and for Birth Weight (Birdir) of 1.0. These values are within the criteria as set by the Society for “The Simmentaler of Tomorrow”. Furthermore, regarding these EBV's the herd improved in comparison to the SA 2010 crop from the 70% category (its 2000 to 2006 cows) to the 20% category (its present 2011 crop of heifers).

* Growth under extensive grazing conditions - the 2007 to 2010 crop of cows have a median Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) for 400 days growth (22) and 600 days growth (26). These values are within the criteria as set by the Society for “The Simmentaler of Tomorrow”.

* The economic value of the overall improvement of our herd is shown in its economic indexes as compared to the SA 2010 crop. The value of the three indexes, SF, SG and TS, increase from the 70% category for our 2000-2006 cows to the 30 to 40% categories for our 2007 to 2011 cows and heifers.

Econotech Simmentaler sells all its stud animals directly from the farm. This gives a buyer the opportunity to study an animal visually without being misled by a 2000 kg high protein diet over the previous four months. In this we follow the Australian practise where, according to Australian beef experts (Coates, Breedplan), no grain fed bulls are sold. Off-the-farm bulls are fit, ready to work and have semen of a much higher quality than those from grain-fed bulls.

Pregnant cows for sale - possible donor cow's

We at Econotech Simmentaler have eighteen of our top stud cows for sale. Eight of these cows are the daughters of well-known AI bulls and the rest have been sired by our own bulls. Seventeen of the cows are presently pregnant – between six weeks (one heifer) and two, three or six months of pregnancy. They have been sired by either our well-known bull, JozetteGonasty PP, a homozygous polled AI bull (eleven cows), or two of our own bred bulls.

The last cow, PJD0021, is an exceptional cow with great depth, capacity and conformation. One of her calves sired by KyksoKalhei, namely Econotech Roger PJD0810, has been used extensively in our stud. PJD0021 could very easily be used as a donor cow. She is not pregnant at present.

The last cow, PJD0021, is an exceptional cow with great depth, capacity and conformation. One of her calves sired by Kykso Kalhei, namely Econotech Roger PJD0810, has been used extensively in our stud. PJD0021 could very easily be used as a donor cow. She is not pregnant at present.

Information about Stud Bulls for Sale

Our genetic improvement is shown in the four top bulls presently for sale. Econotech Roger, a son of the AI bull KyksoKalhei, is being used in our stud. It proofed its worth by increasing the stud's calving ease and lowering the birth weight, but also maintaining growth. Roger's economic indexes are rated within the top ten to twenty per cent of the SA Simmentaler crop for 2010. Roger is now for sale.

A Ganza son, PJD0922, with a deep red colour, considerable length and capacity, is also for sale. This bull is presently being used in our stud especially for its growth attributes (an EBV of 19 for 200 days growth), but with a low birth weight (an EBV of 0.9).

One of the sons of Gonasty is for sale, namely Econotech Hunt P. Most of the EBV's of Hunt fall within the band stipulated by the Society for the Simmentaler of the Future.

A grandson of Profeet, known for its low birth weight plus high growth, is also for sale. Econotech Allan has a strong head and eye brows, a superior top line and with depth and capacity.