Simmental Society to recognise top cows

In a new move aimed at helping breeders identify top performing dam lines the Simmental Society is to introduce an Elite Performance Cow Register to highlight the breed’s top performing cows.

To be allowed entry to the list cows will have to have a self replacing index of more than +22 and have calved at least five times with an average calving interval of 13 months or less, explains Gordon Clark of the Society’s technical committee.

“It’s is easy to identify cows with high self replacing indexes, but to get onto the Elite Register cows will have to be regular breeders too,” he explains.

Mr Clark says 21 cows have achieved the standard this year and the list will be updated annually.

It’s now down to breeders to focus on these essential commercial traits and ensure their cows perform to the required standard.