Simmental Trade Mission to Czech Republic

Simmental Australia undertook a Trade Mission tour to Czech Republic in May, 2007, as part of its export market development program.

All Association members were invited to join this Trade Mission, with seven members joining the Trade Mission's leader, Peter Speers to pursue the aims:

* To promote Australian Simmental genetics,
* To promote the planned World Simmental Fleckvieh Congress in Australia in 2010,
* To foster contacts with influential Simmental breeders and Association officials from different countries
* To become acquainted with the Simmental breeding and production programs and needs of different countries.

The Trade Mission focussed its activities on the World Simmental Fleckvieh Federation (WSFF) Council program convened in Czech Republic from May 26 to 31.

This report provides a brief summary of the trip and its key outcomes which promise to be of benefit to all members either directly or indirectly.

Simmental Australia's Trade Mission Delegation

Ian Marshall, Noelle Wardle, Judith Marshall,
Maureen & Darryl Litton, Marie & Geoff Cattach
and Peter Speers

Click for More Photos

Simmental Fleckvieh in Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has made major advances in the 18 years since the end of Soviet control. Infrastructure developments and improvements in the country’s economic position are notable.

Cattle breeding is an important part of Czech Agriculture, with cattle industry income comprising 23% of total agricultural production.

The national cattle population is 1.4 million, comprising 430,000 dairy cows  and 140,000 beef cows.

Simmental Fleckvieh and their crosses with other breeds comprise 47% of the country’s beef production.

The Czech Simmental Fleckvieh herdbook has about 165,000 registered cows, representing about 46%of the country’s total dairy population.

The average annual milk production of Czech Simmental Fleckvieh cows is 6,175 kg, comparable with countries like Germany, Austria or Italy.

The breeding goal of Czech Simmental Fleckvieh is focussed on dual purpose animals with excellent milk production on the one hand and good beef production on the other. The dual purpose type is proving more profitable in many parts of Europe. A Total Merit Index (TMI) is used, with weightings as follows:

40% Milk       (Fat 8%) Protein (32%)
35% Fitness     (Fertility, Milkability, Leg & Udder Structure)
24% Beef       (Daily Gain, Muscularity, Dressing %)

Daily gains have been improved to around 1.45 kg.

Longevity and animal health are regarded as high priority traits by most breeders.

About 100 Simmental Fleckvieh bulls are tested each year, with the elite tested bulls used in AI programs.

Outcomes

  • Through participation in the World Simmental Fleckvieh Federation Council Program, Trade Mission participants established many personal contacts with Simmental breeders from around the world. Approximately 60 formal and 100 informal Delegates attended this event, representing 22 countries.

  • Peter Speers, being a member of all WSFF Committees and Chairman of the Beef Production Committee, led discussion at Committee and Council levels on a range of issues of importance in developing improved technical and marketing communication for Simmentals worldwide.

  • Approval was given to convene a World Simmental Congress in Australia in 2010. P. Speers made a formal audio visual presentation to promote the important World Simmental Congress in Australia planned for 2010. This Congress will present a tremendous opportunity to showcase Australian Simmentals to a worldwide audience. Further overseas promotion of this event in coming years will be necessary.

  • Through a number of visits to Simmental farms, Trade Mission participants gained a valuable appreciation of the type of Simmental production systems existing in Czech Republic and the traits needed in breeding stock.

  • Important traits identified for Czech Simmental breeding programs  include:
    • Sound conformation - legs, feet, udders.
    • Good growth and milking ability are sought but not to the extreme.
    • Moderate frame size is preferred.
    • Particular interest was expressed in locating sires with homozygous polledness.

All these traits can be readily sourced in many lines of Australian Simmentals, presenting outcross bloodlines for both Czech breeders and Simmental breeders in other countries. However, Australia lacks the ability to report actual milk production on most individual Australian Simmental lines.
Nonetheless there are marketing possibilities for Simmental Australia members to European countries, Russia and to other countries with delegates present at the WSFF Council meeting program.

  • Discussions were held with delegates from different countries on the potential for developing linked genetic evaluation for Simmentals between these countries. This would further enhance marketing opportunities for Australian Simmentals.
  • Discussions held by Trade Mission participants with other countries’ delegates also proved fruitful.
    • The delegation from UK was interested in Australian Simmental genetics, with particular interest in polled and marbling lines.
    • The British Simmental Society has recently introduced a Breedplan genetic evaluation service, similar to that used with Australian Simmental. This presents opportunities to more closely relate Australian and UK Simmentals on a similar basis, enhancing marketing opportunities.
    • Other European delegations expressed interest in the Australian Simmental genetic lines that are polled and/or carry marbling genes.
    • Further market development work should be undertaken by Simmental Australia in the UK and some other European countries (eg Russia, Ukraine).
    • The delegate from China, Dr Wang, expressed interest in purchasing Australian Simmental genetics and was interested in an Australian Simmental delegation visiting China to appraise their needs.
    • The North American representatives discussed possible joint development programs for Black and Red Simmentals to more aggressively target markets in both Australia and North America.
      These programs potentially could massively expand Simmental Australia’s market share domestically and internationally.
  • Trade Mission participants were all excellent ambassadors for the Australian Simmental breed and representatives of Simmental Australia and its members.
  • There was very effective liaison between Trade Mission delegates and delegates from other countries in identifying marketing opportunities for Australian Simmental genetics.
  • A large number of Simmental Australia magazines, brochures and promotional materials were distributed during the WSFF Council Program.

SUMMARY

This Trade Mission provided the opportunity for a group of Australian Simmental breeders to appraise the Czech Simmental breed, liaise with a large cross section of worldwide Simmental breeders and to promote Australian Simmentals to this influential group.

The Australian delegates ably represented Simmental Australia at this important World Simmental function while promoting the planned Australian World Simmental Fleckvieh Congress in 2010.

While the participants all promoted Australian Simmentals, they also appraised the particular product requirements of Czech Republic and other countries.

A number of specific trait requirements were identified for the Czech Simmental market and there is potential to further promote the attributes of suitable Australian Simmentals. All members could further pursue these marketing opportunities.

Interest shown by China in Australian Simmentals should be pursued with a Trade Mission trip to China in the near future.

Developments in the UK present specific marketing opportunities for Australian Simmental which should be vigorously pursued by Simmental Australia.

Accordingly, Simmental Australia will be organising an Australian Simmental Trade Mission to UK in 2008.

Simmental Australia’s Trade Mission Participants

Name                     Address  
Geoff Cattach         4 Stanford Court, Harvey, Western Australia
Marie Cattach        4 Stanford Court, Harvey, Western Australia
Darryl Litton          CMB, Cookernup, Western Australia
Maureen Litton      CMB, Cookernup, Western Australia
Ian Marshall           10 Walsall Street, The Gap, Queensland
Judith Marshall      10 Walsall Street, The Gap, Queensland
Noelle Wardle        451 Beckett Road, Bridgeman Downs, Queensland
Peter Speers           Simmental Australia, Sydney, NSW

Trade Mission Itinerary

Individual delegates undertook varied activities before and after the core WSFF Council program.

The core Trade Mission itinerary, incorporating the WSFF Council program was as follows:

THURSDAY/FRIDAY, MAY 24th/25th, 2007
         Delegates arrive in Prague
SATURDAY, MAY 26TH, 2007
         Registration at Congress Hotel, Prague
         Visit dual purpose Simmental/Fleckvieh farm – West Bohemia Region
         Welcome dinner and opening ceremony in Prague
SUNDAY, MAY 27TH, 2007
         Visit Simmental/Fleckvieh farm /fattening herd
         Hotel check-in, Jihlava
MONDAY, MAY 28TH, 2007
         Visit Simmental/Fleckvieh farm /East Bohemia Region
         National stud Slatinany /Castle Slatinany
         Visit Simmental/Fleckvieh farm /East Bohemia Region
         Visit the Pilgrimage Church of the St. John of Nepomuk at Zelena Hora in Zdar nad Sazavou
         Dinner buffet at Zdar nad Sazavou Castle
TUESDAY, MAY 29TH, 2007 - in the VYSOCINA Region
         Council and Subcommittee Meetings
         Visit Simmental/Fleckvieh farm /South Bohemia Region
         Dinner
WEDNESDAY, MAY 30TH, 2007
         Workshop
         Visit Simmental/Fleckvieh farm /Vysocina Region
         Wine tavern evening in Templar Wine Cellars of Cejkovice /South Moravia Region
THURSDAY, MAY 31ST, 2007
         Progeny presentation show
         Visit Simmental/Fleckvieh farm /Vysocina Region
         Visit of the AI center Bohdalec including presentation of the breeding bulls
         Closing ceremony of the Council Meeting /Jihlava/
FRIDAY, JUNE 1ST, 2007
         Transfers to Prague