An intensive research with Simmentaler/ Fleckvieh on both Jersey and Holstein will be done officially by the Dept. Agriculture of Western Cape(South Africa).

This decision was taken on 21 April 2005 on a meeting with farmers, researchers and the Director: Technology, Research and Development, Institute of Animal Production, Western Cape Agricultural Department.

The meeting was attended by :
Johan Blomerus (Director: Technology, Research and  Development, , Western Cape Department of Agricultural)
Dr Carel Muller (Specialist Scientist (Dairy cattle), Institute for Animal Production,  Western Cape Department of Agriculture, Elsenburg  ),
William Gertenbach (Head, Institute for Animal Production, Western Cape Department of Agriculture) Dr Robin Meeske (Specialist Scientist (Dairy nutrition) , Institute for Animal Production, Western Cape Department of Animal Production, Outeniqua Research Station,  George, Southern Cape.).
Farmers involved with this research: Michael Barry(Jersey farmer), Pierre Laesecke(Jersey),Thys Swart ( Simmentaler) and Ian Oosthuizen (Holstein).

Discussions on the following:
The proofs on Dundonald (Barry farm) and Pleasant View (Oosthuizen farm) will go on and Dr Carel Muller will now be direct involve with this proofs. 120 F1 Fleckvieh x Jersey and 4 F2 Fleckvieh will go in testing from August 2005 at Dundonald and 300 F1 Fleckvieh x Holstein on Pleasant View.
Bullcalves of both farms will be test for both feedconvertion and growth.
Jersey cows will be inseminated with 3 bulls from BFG semen (Bavarian Fleckvieh Genetics ) on Outeniqua research farm in George, Southern Cape. Milkproduction and beef will be tested against pure Jersey.
Holstein cows of Elsenburg (Stellenbosch in the Boland, Western Cape)  will be inseminated with same three BFG bulls as Outeniqua used. Production comparison will be tested between F1 crosses, Pure Holstein and F2 crosses. Dr Muller mentioned that half of F1 crosses will be AI'ed with a third breed to compare them with F2 Fleckvieh to gave an answer to farmers who at the moment do crossings on crossings (Jersey on Holstein than Ayrshire than back to Jersey). Official research could show the farmers which system is the best: Absorption crossing with Fleckvieh or crisscross of different breeds.
Johan Blomerus mentioned that Fleckvieh is an alternative for small scale farmers (up coming black farmers) and the Dept asked him to provide answers to help small scale farmers in Western Cape on a breed to chose. The possibility's with Fleckvieh is great by using it to cross their animals already in there posetion. The breed is hardy, provides beef and milk and also adapted to local conditions.
BFG will be involved with this project with the Agricultural Dept. of Western Cape.
The research will be done under Dr Muller and Dr Robin Meeske.

All party's involved were very excited and also surprised to see the good condition of the F1 and F2 animals. There was not a single person in the meeting that was negative or doubtful. Myself was very surprised by the attitude of researchers and it was not expected.

This research results could change the face of Dairy farms in South Africa completely. In the near future Simmentaler/Fleckvieh could become one of the very important breeds in the dairy farmers breeding program. This breed could help the SA farmers to realize more money from their dairy and to stay on their farms during this tough economical time's.