Zuchtziel Fleckvieh

Breed profile:

	Fleckvieh are strong in fitness and high yielding dual-purpose cattle. The ideal Fleckvieh cow in milk shows a strong forehand and maintains sufficient muscling on back and hindlegs to keep stability and health even during peak lactation. The body proportions are harmonious both when standing still and in motion. Fleckvieh cattle are characterised by their sound feet and legs.
Adult Fleckvieh cows reach a height at cross of 140 - 150cm and a chest girth of 210 - 240cm with a life weight of 650 to 850kg. The pelvis is wide and slightly sloped. The udder is firmly attached and has an udder depth which remains above the hocks even after several lactations.

Milk production:

Depending on management, natural conditions and feeding intensity herd performances of 7.000kg of milk with 4,2% fat and 3,7% protein are equally achievable as performance levels of more than 10.000kg of milk. The annual milk production increases up to the 5th lactation. A significant trait of the breed is its top rank with regards to udder health with an average somatic cell count of less than 180.000 across all lactations.

Beef production :

The fast growing male calves are excellently suited for successful cattle fattening and provide dairy farmers with an important supplementary income stream. Under intensive fattening conditions young bulls reach daily weight gains of more than 1.300g with a slaughter age of 16 to 18 months. 85 to 90% of the bull carcasses are classified into the European grade E and U, demanded by the market, with a dressing percentage of 57 to 60%

Culling cows reach a slaughter weight of 350 to 450kg. The highly demanded carcasses are primarily ranked as European grades U and R and have a medium fat content and optimum marbling.

Breeding aim:

The breeding aim is defined by the economical total merit index (TMI). The milk, beef and fitness traits are well balanced. All individual traits are weighted according to their economical importance on farm basis. The aim is to improve yield and animal fitness and health whilst maintaining meat production and to increase lifetime performance. The objective is a high functional longevity with an average lifetime production of 30.000kg milk.