Econotech Simmentaler

Econotech Simmentaler excels in improving the economic value of its herd

The South African Simmentaler Society in conjunction with Breedplan designed an economic index to take all economic related attributes into account, namely the SF: Self-Replacing Feedlot Index ($ or R). The SF $index estimates the genetic differences between animals in net profitability per cow joined for a self replacing commercial herd producing 430 kg straight-bred steers for slaughter at 11 months, 120 day grain finished, with no economic weighting on marbling. Daughters are retained for breeding.

Econotech Simmentaler supports the SF $index as a measure of how genetics serve the commercial farmer. Our breeding progress culminates in the steady increase in the SF $index for the Econotech Simmentaler herd since 2003 when EBV’s started to play a crucial role in our breeding. In 2007 the SF $index for the Econotech herd outstripped that for SA as a whole with 62 per cent, i.e. 55 to 34. See the following graph.

Econotech Andries was sired by Zamuto from semen imported from Germany. Zamuto was selected for its superior conformation and growth attributes as well as its dark red pigmentation. Its offspring have similar attributes and add value to the stud. One of its females scored eight out of nine and two scored seven out of nine. The females are also very fertile with its first calves born between 17 and 25 months. The SF $index of Zamuto is 59 per cent above that of the SA 2006 crop, i.e. 54 against 34.

Econotech Andries is structurally an outstanding bull with a score of seven out of nine and with dark red pigmentation. According to Mr. Roux Wiid Andries could be used to good effect in a stud.

It was used sparingly during the 2007/08 breeding season and sired two excellent heifers. On the basis of the quality of its first offspring full use was made of Andries during the 2008/09 season as a stud bull.

Table 1 and the accompanying graphs show that Econotech Andries, PJD06, has stronger EBV’s than the SA 2006 crop for growth. It couples strong growth up 400 days with a medium frame after 600 days. Furthermore, its EBV for 200-day maternal (milk) – the kilogram of calf live weight at 200-days which is due to the maternal effect (milk) of the cow – is 20% higher that for the SA crop. The SF $index – that is a measure of the economic value of a bull’s offspring as considered under commercial farming and feedlot conditions - for Andries is 29 per cent higher than that for the average SA 2006 crop. It’s EBV for birth weight (Birdir = 2.2) shows that it should be used on mature cows and not on heifers.

Kwantum Profeet - Father of Econotech James

Kwantum Profeet is a “curve bender” with a Birdir EBV of 0.2 against a 200-days EBV of 18. Profeet is one of only four AI bulls on the Simmentaler website database with a Birdir of less than 0.4 PLUS a 200-day weight EBV of 12 and more. In addition its EBV’s for calving ease that is CED, CEM and gestation length are also favourable: EBV’s for CED and gestation length are within the top 1% and 10% respectively of the SA 2006 herd. The EBV for gestation length is also an indicator for high fertility under its daughters.

Profeet provides exactly the genes which Econotech Simmentaler is aiming at, namely calving ease PLUS above average growth. Profeet’s SF $index of 92, within 1% of the SA herd, shows its economic value to a herd.

Econotech James is an outstanding bull and a son of Kwantum Profeet. On its mother’s side James has Dorsim Naas Botha (bull of the year) and Kameeldam Pott (also bull of the year) as forefathers.

James’ mother, PJD078, is an outstanding female. She is at present pregnant with her tenth calf and has a Simdex of 102.

Ian Currin, technical advisor to the Simmentaler Breeders Association, scored Econotech James a seven out of nine. He liked the bull with its correct claws, strong legs, very deep body and forceful head. Roux Wiid also reckons that James is a good quality bull with a good top line and that it will increase the growth factor of its offspring.

Econotech James, son of Profeet, has above average growth EBV’s. Its EBV for 400-days growth is within the top 1% of the SA 2006 herd and its SF $index is within the top 20%.

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

* Calving ease under extensive conditions - from its 2007 crop of heifers and onwards the median Estimated Breeding Values (EBV’s) for Calving Ease (CED) and birth weight (BirDir) are within the top 10% and 30% of the SA herd respectively

* Growth under extensive grazing conditions - the herd is again within the criteria as set by the society.

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 1000 kg high protein diet over the previous four months. According to Australian beef experts (Coates, Breedplan) no grain fed bulls are sold in Australia. Off-the-farm bulls are fit, ready to work and with semen which is of much higher quality than that from grain-fed bulls.

Favourable prospects for beef market

Various sources of information and analyses point to favourable prospects for the cattle industry, namely:
* The authorative policy analysis from BFAP (June 2009) states: “Beef production remained fairly constant over the period 2008-2009 on the back of high feed costs. Lower feed prices in 2009 and 2010 will boost production from 2010 onwards. The expected softening of beef demand due to the economic downturn has not materialized….As the economy recovers and interest rates decline, beef consumption is projected to grow at a moderate rate due to projected growth in personal disposable income of the South African population. Prices will consolidate on the early gains in 2009 and are projected to increase from 2010 onwards. The gap between beef and calf prices is expected to widen.”
* Furthermore, the average price for stud bulls at the 2009 production sales of breeders under the auspices of the Simmentaler Breeders Association showed a considerable increase over 2008. Over 100 stud bulls have been sold since January 2009 for an average price of R37132 per bull.

Econotech Simmentaler

Genetics for sale - Registered Simmentaler bulls