Simmeron Ranch is located 3 mile west of Morinville, Alberta, Canada on secondary highway 642, about 15 miles north of Edmonton.Alberta. It is owned and operated by Martin Skaret. If you would like to further research my registered cattle go to the Canadian Simmental site under pedigree using the herd letters FSR and number and year letter. I sell both horned and polled 100% Fullfleck Fullblood simmentals.

I started this Simmental herd in 2002 based on the last cows raised by Garth Neuman of Klondike Ranch. I purchased the last 3 cows from Garth and 5 embroys from the mating of DDD Broadway G534 and Great Guns Feline 6D. Feline had sold in 1997 at the Red Deer Fleckfest for $13,500. From the 5 embroys I recieved 3 calves, two heifers and 1 bull, Simmeron Mr, Royal 3R. This turned out to be an excellent mating. My whole herd base of 30 females are daughters of Mr, Royal and the 3 Klondike cows, which make for a very consistant looking herd; according to cattlemen who visit my farm to purchase Fullfleck Fullblood herd bulls. Mr. Royal’s daughters are very quiet (Pets) with excellent body structure, well attached, high milk producing udders, muscling and excellent feet. In fact I have never trimmed the feet of any of Mr. Royals daughters.

According to research a calf needs 7 pounds of milk to gain 1 pound a day. My calves are gaining 3 to 4 plus pounds a day at weaning, which indicates the milk production I have in my herd. Mr. Royal was working for Diamond T Simmentals at Barrhead, Alberta and after 2 years has moved to Elliott Simmental of Breton, Alberta. Royal in now 9 years old.  He has had his feet manacured once at 7 years and at 8 years because of his age. I have semen from Mr. Royal that is available for international sales. He has happy progeny at Bar None Simmentals, Westlock, Alberta and in Sweden and U.S.A.

I out source genetics to keep my herd distantly unrelated to anything in Canada. I use imported semen from German horned and polled Fullblood Fullfleck bulls. I am always looking for exceptional Canadian bulls that I feel would work with my genetics. Please feel free to make herd bull suggestion to me. 2014 calf crop has calves from Mr. Royal, Kaschmir who is an excellent mating with Mr. Royal daughter, Bar None Mainstream,  BFG Brandberg PS, and Hermanus . Other bulls in my AI lineup are Emperor and  Zamuto . These bulls plus other keep my herd 100% Fullblood Fleckvieh. My herd has a strong Mr. Royal base which also gives me calving ease. I breed all my first calf heifers to German bulls and have virtually no calving problems.

When purchasing herd bulls I think It is important to select bulls and heifers that have been born and bred from the owners herd. It is rewarding to have your herd name behind the sire and dam when you are selling breeding stock. This ensures you are buying the genetics you want. I think with the gene pool in Canadian cattle and the availability of world wide genetics we could develop a growth rate in our cattle to the point of eliminating the use of growth stimulants in our beef, giving Canadian beef another benefit to consumers around the world. My herd is also part of the Verified Beef Production program. With my management program I use very few drugs since a am fortunate to have a very healthy herd.

To maintain my herds health I only buy and feed good quality hay. My cow receive 6 pounds of a grain ration everyday in addition to good free choice hay. This keeps my cows in good shape but not fat for January calving, which we all know is very demanding on cows and first calf heifers. It also aids in calving ease, milk production and quicker recovery for rebreeding, which is a must for my AI program. In 2013 I started creep feeding my calves with the same grain ration that the whole herd receives. With my high weaning weights the creep feed reduces the load on their mothers.

My replacement heifers are fed a maximum of 6 pounds of my 12% protein grain ration daily along with free choice second cut hay. This allows them to grow to their potential of 1000 pounds plus when I AI them and reduces the risk of internal fat deposits which can reduce conception rates and cause calving difficulties. All my heifer are AI’ed To Fullblood Fullfleck bulls. You need good cow to produce good replacement heifers and herd bulls since the Dam is at least half the calf.

My yealing bulls that are for sale each year are fed second cut hay plus their daily ration of grain. At weaning, coming off the creep feeder the bulls start at 6 pounds of grain a day, in November they go to 8 pounds and in mid February I raise them to their maximum grain ration of 10 pounds of my 12% protein ration daily. I try to raise my animals for longevity so when you buy a bull from me he will work hard for you and last for as long as you want him to. The longevity of Simmeron Mr. Royal 3R is proof of my feeding program. Royal will be starting his 9th breeding season in 2014.

Thank you for visiting my web site to view my cattle and hear about my program. Everyone is welcome to come for a visit to view my cattle any time of the year as they never leave home.

Martin Skaret
Simmeron Ranch
780 913 7963

PS. When viewing my gallery of pictures I ask you to remember that I take these pictures in their natural surroundings and looking natural.  I don’t pretty up my animals for pictures.