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Need a reason to choose Simmental? Here's Ten!

No matter what we're buying, many of us want a "good buy for our money." We want our dollars to stretch as far as possible while securing a quality product. One of the best buys on the cattle market today is a Simmental bull.

And here's ten reasons why:

Reason No. 1 - Registered Simmental bulls come with EPDs: birth weight EPDs, performance and economic trait EPDs, and carcass EPDs. (Simmental stand in the elite of having carcass EPDs.) EPDs remove the guesswork. EPDs behind Simmental bulls have been generated by an unbiased third party, are based on mountains of data and are accompanied by an accuracy figure that relays the reliability factor. EPDs are predictors. They are the best tool available today. When used with other tools, EPDs can lead your heard to increased profitability.

Reason No. 2 - Numbers of breeders. Simmental is popular, with the American Simmental Association having an enormous membership. This popularity enables you to have many sources when searching for your cattle operation. Different breeders concentrate on different traits. Take advantage of this selection.

Reason No. 3 - Numbers of animals. With so many ASA members and seedstock producers, commercial cattlemen can pick and choose from many bulls. Look around to find that "right" bull or bulls.

Reason No. 4 - Simmental bulls are known for their growth. We're not talking size as in "height." That day is gone. But today's Simmental bull offers you pounds of red meat. Their offspring gain and grow in the feedlot. As the Strategic Alliances Field Study pointed out, Continental British steers (like Simmental-influenced steers) outperformed the British and British-cross steers in the feedyard. Dr. Bill Mies of Texas A&M and the Strategic Alliances team said that pounds of gain was the project's best predictor of profitability. Pounds of gain -- a Simmental strong point.

Reason No. 5 - Simmental bulls sire females that make super mama cows. Cattleman after cattleman sing the praises of the Simmental influenced dam. The Simmental-influenced female is a maternal machine that raises a strapping, profitable calf, and she breeds back to keep your herd on track.

Reason No. 6 - Simmental also perform on the rail. They won't grade 100 percent Choice. No breed can make that claim. But that will make you money. The ASA's carcass EPDs can help you make educated decisions to find the bull that will take you in the right direction.

Reason No. 7 - Simmental produce a lean carcass -- the kind demanded by today's industry. The National Beef Quality Audit showed that the industry average fat thickness is .6 inch -- a detriment to the beef industry. (Pounds of fat put on in the feedlot must be removed before displaying the beef in front of the consumer.) Strategic Alliances showed that by targeting cattle for .4 inch fat thickness, the industry could shave 30 pounds of fat per animal. That÷s a savings of about $30 per animal.

Reason No. 8 - Simmental come in a variety of phenotypes. If your program is targeting solid red, Simmental can take you in that direction. If your program is focusing on black, Simmental can take you in that direction -- and give you that added growth and profitability. Also, many a Simmental is polled. Simmental also come in a variety of sizes. If you need to lessen frame, you can do it with Simmental. Ditto, if you want to add a bit of frame. Simmental can give you ease of fleshing, thickness, and maternal traits.

Reason No. 9 - Simmental complement many other breeds. Crossbreeding is in. Hybrid vigor simply can't be ignored. The good thing about Simmental is that it crosses so well with many other breeds. Inject just one shot of Simmental and watch your satisfaction increase and your bank account grow.

Reason No. 10 - Simmental bulls give you a complete package. While reason 1 thru 9 can stand on their own, Simmental can give you all nine in one package.