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first
Fullblood Simmental Fleckvieh Federation Showcase Sale to take place in
the United States; the first two took place in Calgary, Canada.
Such
a sale brought together quality cattle, quality genetics, and cattlemen
seeking both. Buyers and sellers came from both North and South America
to purchase or sell cows bulls, bull semen, and embryos. While the
majority of those attending were from Canada and various parts of the
U.S (S.E., Midwest, and Northwest), several cattlemen and their families
were from Brazil. Approximately fifty cattle were sold during this
event.
The
agenda for this event included more than just the sale. The cattle began
arriving on the Thursday prior to the sale. On Friday there was a tour
of local farms, an annual meeting, followed by a tour of the Space and
Rocket Center including food and drinks. Saturday morning, prior to the
sale, a tour of Historic Huntsville was offered. During that same time
the opportunity for cattle inspection took place at The Agribition
Center. Prior to the sale a tasty lunch of barbeque, Brunswick stew,
beans, potato salad, slaw, and tea was catered by a local barbeque
establishment. The sale began shortly after one p.m. and progressed
smoothly until four p.m. when the last animal, straw, and embryo were
sold.
Judging
from the smiling faces of those attending the sale and the satisfied
look of those leaving after the event, the sale organizers had done a
good job of putting together popular and proven genetics in various
categories including Full South Africans, Polled Full Fleckvieh’s,
both bulls a strong set of bred and open females. While Huntsville is
primarily known for its Aerospace and Defense Industry, after the
Showcase Cattle Sale it become known as a place where some of the best
Fullblood Simmental Fleckvieh could be found in one weekend.
A
history of the Simmental Breed (taken from the American Simmental
Association website): The Simmental is among the oldest and most widely
distributed of all breeds of cattle in the world. Those 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 (draft) animals." They were known for their
gentle nature, impressive stature and excellent dairy qualities. Since
its origin in Switzerland, the breed has spread to all six continents.
Total numbers are estimated between 40 and 60 million Simmental cattle
worldwide, with more than half in Europe.
There
are unsubstantiated reports from a variety of sources indicating
Simmental cattle arrived in the United States before the turn of the
century. Apparently, those early imports did not capture the imagination
of the American cattleman and the Simmental influence died quietly away
until they were reintroduced in the late 1960s. |
