THE SIMBRAH
(By Peter Massmann, Chairman of the World SF Federation Simbrah Committee)
Cattle breeding began in the 18th century when Robert Bakewell (1725-1795) from
England was the first to select animals to breed a desired type (breed). His students
established the foundation of the Shorthorn in the late 1700’s, the first recognised breed
of cattle.
According to (Lush (1949) breeds were established by the identification of a type
regarded as more useful than the ordinary, selection of a few superior animals for a
limited number of herds who practised inbreeding to establish a uniform type which could
be regarded as a breed. If successful, more herds were established and a breed society
formed to keep the herdbook and ensure the purity of the breed. It is of interest to note
that breeds were greatly influenced by a few sires. For instance, nearly a quarter of the
Angus breed is related to one bull namely “Prince of Tillyfour” (Nichols, 1949). The main
sire of the grey Brahman breed is “Manso”. In the mid seventies 60% of all registered
grey Brahman were “Manso” descendants (Perkins, 1987). “Monkey”, born in 1920, a
3/8 Brahman X 5/8 Shorthorn is the foundation sire of the entire Santa Gertrudis breed
(Seyfferdt, 1999).
Modern breed development
Does the development of breeds in the past differ from today’s Simbrah breeding
program? Yes, Simbrah Associations don’t believe in the closed Herd Book concept,
dominance of a few sires or inbreeding and selection based on visual evaluation alone.
Closed Herd Books restrict migration of favourable genes. Due to the large
environmental variation under which Simbrah breeders farm as well as differing bull
buyer preferences, we believe in the maintenance of a sound variation within the breed
enabling breeders to develop a type which performs in their environment. Any form of
inbreeding results in the loss of within-breed heterosis and should be avoided.
The origin
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 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 Simmental
Associations in Australia, Brazil (more Nelore than Brahman), Mexico, South Africa and
Namibia decided to facilitate the Simbrah.
In South Africa and Namibia Simbrah has shown the highest percentage increase in
females of all cattle breeds for a few years already and the annual growth for the last 5
years is 15% per year. Today the Simbra is according to registered females already the
4th largest out of the 32 beef cattle breeds.
Breeding programmes
Flexibility is allowed in the Simbrah breeding programs and a wide range of SimmentalBrahman crosses are allowed in the Registers. A breeder can dictate the optimum
combination best suited to his environment, management and customers.
The environment determines the ideal blood composition. In temperate regions we see a
higher percentage of Simmental and the higher the environmental stress level the “more
ear” or Brahman. In determining the optimum proportion of Brahman we must consider
that too high percentage Brahman cattle tend to have a delayed age at puberty (Plasse,
1968 and Cartwright, 1980) decreased growth performance (Holroyd, 1990) and reduced
beef quality (Marschall, 1994).
Breeding aim
A Breeders’ Association without a defined breeding policy is without purpose. There are
minor differences between the Simbrah Association breeding aims and the overall goal
Simbrah breeders world wide strive for is to breed an animal which is a profitable
producer and for which there is a demand in the beef cattle industry of that country.
Regarding the colour of the breed we believe that the most profitable cow on the
ranch/farm has the desired colour. In a developing breed we have too many production
related characteristics to worry about that we cannot waste time on colour. In Southern
Africa eyelid pigmentation is a prerequisite for registration and dehorning is obligatory.
Visit the different web pages for more detailed information on the Simbrah in
member countries.
Thank you
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------“The Simbrah is a hardy, smooth-coated, well adapted breed, with virile, hard-muscled,
growthy bulls and feminine, fertile, highly functional cows. A breed possessing the best
of the Simmental and the Brahman breeds, a breed that has all the potential to produce
beef efficiency, especially in extensive cattle breeding areas.” (Mr Dave Morley, Senior
Judge of Brahman, Simbra and Simmentaler in Namibia and South Africa).
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