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Salers in New Zealand |
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Introduced in New Zealand
in 1987, Salers are taking their place as a unique European
breed with a balance of traits ideal for cross breeding.
The New Zealand farmer needs an animal that is hardy
and tolerant of widely varying conditions while still
achieving maximum weight gains. The genetic purity of
the Salers breed creates a remarkable degree of hybrid
vigour in cross breeding programmes that correlates
to strong increases in weaning and yearling weights.
Salers have proved adaptable to New Zealand conditions
from Northland to Invercargill.
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Salers are a breed bred for
success in today's economic climate.
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History of Salers |
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Salers have been bred for
centuries in the Cantel region of South Central France.
Salers cattle (pronounced Sa-Lair) are believed to be
direct descendants of ancient Egyptian cattle and were
first recorded by archaeologists as depicted from ancient
drawings in cave dwellings dated some 7,000 years ago.
The drawings were found near Salers, a small medieval
town in the centre of France.
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With such a unique background, the breed is considered
to be one of the oldest and most genetically pure of
all European breeds.
Salers cattle are now known to be native to the Aubergine
region of South Central France, which is an isolated,
mountainous area noted for it's rough rocky terrain,
poor soil and a harsh climate. As topography allowed
for little cereal grain production the Salers cattle
were forced to become foragers.
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Until modern times Salers cattle were
respected not only as beef animals, but as milk producers
for cheese products. In France today, only about 10%
of the Salers herds are still milked, the remainder
being used for beef production. The breed is numerically
France's largest "hardy breed" with 190,000
cows of which 30,000 are registered and performance
recorded. In New Zealand Salers Breedplan is used for
performance recording.
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Maternal Efficiency |
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Salers females are extremely
fertile. They reach puberty at an early age, conceive
quickly, calve easily and breed back readily. Bred for
their rich milk, the Salers female has a tight, well
placed udder that gives an abundance of high quality,
rich milk. Salers calves are typically longer and narrow
with small heads at birth. They are vigorous calves
with moderate birth weights (30-40kg normal range).
The Salers females are known for their large well shaped
pelvic area, which accounts for their exceptional calving
ease. Research of 59,000 cows of 28 breeds show Salers
dams weaned the heaviest (200 day) calves of any breed.
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| For more information about us please contact
info@salers.org.nz |
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