Cows are responsible for more injuries to farmers than bulls, and their offspring will potentially inherit their temperament, says Tracey Neal of Potawa Simmentals, Piopio.

Hamish Neal, 12, demonstrates the quiet nature of the rising two-year-old bulls at Potawa Simmentals.

The Simmental Breed Society has acknowledged the issue of poor temperament in beef cattle breeds, including their own, and has taken the initiative to introduce temperament tests for the benefit of their stud breeders and clients, says Tracey.

'All Simmental stud breeders have been encouraged by the Simmental Herd Society to submit calf docility scores of one to five, with one being extremely docile, based on either of two tests.

'At Potawa Simmentals, we are performing both tests, with crush testing for weaners, followed by yard testing with 18-month-old cattle,” says Tracey.

'This is giving us a very good indication of any animals which may exhibit less than perfect temperament – and it is our policy to cull both females and males which do.

”While it is early days, the results are already showing the differences in some family lines that we have in our herd, and confirming our observations of our cattle's behaviour.”

Thanks to the tests both commercial and stud breeders will be able to make more informed decisions about temperament of the animal they're buying.

As more animals are scored and the information analysed by BREEDPLAN, the beef recording system which produces Estimated Breed Values, the accuracy of the information will also increase.

'All cattle farmers should be trying to utilise the tests to assess the temperament of their own cattle, and act on the information by culling animals which score badly,” says Tracey.

'To avoid breeding a herd of nervous, flighty and potentially aggressive animals, it would make sense to cull those heifers as 18-month animals, rather than breed from them.”

The other emphasis should be on purchasing of replacement animals. 'While it isn't possible to docility test cattle at a sale yard, it is practical to consider the behaviour of a pen of animals awaiting sale, with many differences being observed simply by walking around prior to a sale; especially at weaner fairs.

'The same observation can be applied to replacement cows being purchased, especially if you are buying them ‘in the paddock'.”

Tracey says the in-paddock sale gives buyers opportunity to walk through the yards and even single an animal out for a ‘yard test' if preferred.

'For breeders, selection of a bull for quiet temperament before any other factor is paramount.

'At Potawa Simmentals, Piopio, we pride ourselves on the availability of our sale bulls for anyone to inspect ‘up close and personal', and always have a large selection of yearling bulls close by the sale venue for inspection.

'We also have a policy of open invitation to anyone wanting to view any of the herd at any time of the year, and we're happy to discuss and demonstrate the docility test to anyone wanting further information.”

Potawa Simmentals is holding its 13th Annual Bull Sale at Wilson Rd, Piopio on May 27, 2014.