Editing Simmental cattle (section)

== History ==

=== European origin ===

Among the older and most widely distributed of all breeds of cattle in the world, and recorded since the [[Middle Ages]], the [[Simmental]] breed has contributed to the creation of several other famous European breeds, including the [[Montbéliarde cattle|Montbéliarde]] (France), the [[Pezzata Rossa d'Oropa]] (Italy), and the [[Fleckvieh]] (Germany and Austria).

=== Africa ===

Namibia (1893) and South Africa (1905) were the first countries outside Europe where the breed was successfully established. Here the breed is known as Simmentaler and is mainly used for beef cattle production under suckler cow systems. The Simmentaler breeders' society is, as far as registered animals are concerned, by far the largest of the 17 European and British breeds. The main reasons for its popularity are (i) it can be used with great success in crossbreeding for breeding of both cows with much milk and heavy weaners/oxen, (ii) its superb weight growth rate in feedlots - pure or crossed, and (iii) a strict visual inspection is compulsory for registration in the Herdbook.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.simmentaler.org/Breed/Simmentaler%20in%20SA.htm |title=SIMMENTALER IN SOUTHERN AFRICA |publisher=Simmentaler SA |access-date=23 January 2011 |archive-date=2 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302160929/http://www.simmentaler.org/Breed/Simmentaler%20in%20SA.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Soviet Union ===

In the former [[Soviet Union]], the Simmental was the most important cattle breed. Russian Simmental (Симментальская корова) accounted for one-quarter of all cattle in the USSR. Through extensive crossbreeding, six strains were developed:<ref name="FAO/DAD-IS/Russia">Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations / Domestic Animal Diversity Information System: [http://dad.fao.org/cgi-bin/EfabisWeb.cgi?sid=f7fee8d19c1e7897a74ee21f16f0f8e9,reportsreport8a_50002266 ″Simmentalskaya/Russian Federation.″]. Retrieved 3 July 2013.</ref>
* Steppe Simmental (Russian cattle × Simmental bulls)
* Ukrainian Simmental ([[Ukrainian Grey cattle|Grey steppe cattle]] × Simmental bulls)
* Volga Simmental ([[Kalmyk (cattle)|Central Russian Kalmyk]] and [[Kazakh (cattle)|Kazakh cattle]] × Simmental bulls)
* Ural Simmental ([[Siberian cattle|Siberian]] and [[Kazakh (cattle)|Kazakh cattle]] × Simmental)
* Siberian Simmental ([[Siberian cattle|Siberian]] and [[Buryat (cattle)|Buryat cattle]] × Simmental)
* Far Eastern Simmental ([[Transbaikal cattle|Transbaikal]] and [[Yakutian cattle]] × Simmental)
In 1990, there were 12,849,800 Simmental in the USSR. In 2003, the Simmental count in Russia stood at 2,970,400.<ref name="FAO/DAD-IS/Russia" />