ITINERARY

Major Outcomes

• The WSFF Congress was very well organised by the Danish and Sedish Simmental Associations and the show and cattle events proved most interesting to participants.

• Through participation in the World Simmental Fleckvieh Federation Congress Program, Trade Mission participants established many personal contacts with Simmental breeders from around the world.

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

• In general the Trade Mission was impressed with the European Simmentals, and learnt of the need by these countries to source “outcross genetics”, with strong beef production traits. Australia was identified as a possible new source of such genetics.

• Important traits identified for these breeding programs  include:
  
  Market preference for convenience traits - Calving ease, polledness and sound conformation. (all important in commercial crossbreeding enterprises).
  
  Growing trend to select cattle for marbling and meat tenderness traits.
  
  Use of Gene Markers for marbling and meat tenderness.
  
  Good growth and milking ability are sought but not to the extreme.
  
  Moderate frame size and maturity pattern are preferred.
  
  Preference for well muscled, easy fattening genetics – to increase yield and quality grades.

• All these traits can be readily sourced in many Australian Simmentals, presenting outcross bloodlines for European breeders and marketing possibilities for Simmental Australia members.

• The UK Simmental Society has recently implemented the Australian Breedplan genetic evaluation system. As Simmental Australia and South African Simmental are now all using the same Breedplan system, there is potential for a joint Breedplan evaluation. This could greatly enhance the marketability of Australian Simmental genetics to these countries.

• Discussions held by Trade Mission participants with other countries’ delegates also proved fruitful. Representatives from most of the European countries, and North American countries present at the Congress, expressed interest in the Australian Simmental genetic lines that are polled and/or carry marbling genes.

• Particularly interesting was a reported need in Brazil and Mexico to source environmentally adapted Simmentals with strong beef production traits and as outcross lines unrelated to previous imports from Europe and North America.  This presents a unique opportunity for exports of Australian Simmental genetics to Brazil and Mexico.

• Trade Mission participants proved excellent ambassadors for the Australian Simmental breed and of Simmental Australia and its members. They also benefited from their own observations.

• A large number of Simmental Australia magazines, brochures and promotional materials were distributed during the Congress.

• Approval was given for Australia to host the WSFF Congress in 2010. 
  This offers an exciting marketing opportunity for all Simmental Australia members.

• Peter Speers, as Simmental Australia’s official delegate to WSFF, was re-elected Vice President of WSFF, Chairman of the WSFF Beef Production Committee and Member of all subcommittees.   Mr Franz Sturger (Germany) was elected President and Josef Kucera (Czech) elected Vice President.

SUMMARY

This Trade Mission, whilst small in number of participants, ably represented Simmental Australia at this important World Simmental Congress and extended market development tour in the UK.

Significantly, the participants all promoted Australian Simmentals whilst observing the particular product requirements of European and other represented countries.

A number of specific trait requirements were identified for these markets and these can be well satisfied with many Australian Simmentals.

All Simmental Australia members could further pursue these marketing opportunities.

Arising from the efforts of the Trade Mission, strong interest was generated from a number of countries in the beef production traits of Australian Simmentals as a potential new source of genetics.

The selection of Australia to host the WSFF Congress in 2010 offers exciting marketing opportunities.

The specific marketing opportunities identified by the Trade Mission in some South American markets for Australian Simmental should be vigorously pursued by Simmental Australia, preferably by organising a South American Trade Mission to some of these countries in 2005.

	Australian Congress Delegate Ian Marshall and Judith Marshall enjoying one of the Simmental Farm Visits in Denmark
	Organiser of the Denmark WSFF Congress, Soren Grunnet with WSFF Vice President, Josef Kucera
	A sample of Test Simmental Bulls viewed at the Bull Test Centre, Hernig, Denmark
	A Herd of Simmentals viewed in Sweden
	A Simmental Female Class at the WSFF Simmental Show Hernig, Denmark