How to Identify Simmental Cattle

This is an in depth guide of how to identify modern Simmental and Fleckvieh-Simmental cattle.

Steps

1. Do a search on the Internet or look in a Cattle Breeds book on "Simmentals."
   
2. Study the pictures and the characteristics of the breed. Note the following:
   
   • Colouration: Most Simmentals have a white face with a brownish-red body. They do not have the white stripe down the nape of their necks like Herefords do, nor do they tend to have white down their dewlaps and brisket like Herefords do; however some Simmentals may have a bit of white on the brisket. Other Simmentals will be all black, and others all brown or red. Still others may be all black or all red except for a white face. The biggest thing to remember when identifying a Simmental from a Hereford is their ears: All Simmentals will have their ears the same colour as their body.
     • A traditional Fleckvieh-Simmental will range in colouration from a light buckskin/yellow colour to a brownish-red. They will have a white face that almost always forms a border line just before the jawline, and a white underbelly. Some may have one brown patch over each eye; others may just have one patch over one eye. White may be sometimes shown on the flank and elbows, forming a stripe from the behind elbows and/or the flank all the way up to the topline. A lot of Fleckvieh-Simmentals will have this striping pattern on them; some more than others. In addition, they will have a lot of white on their legs from the underline down. Finally, the tail of a Simmental-Fleckvieh will primarily be all white or white half-way down.
     • Modern Simmentals tend to have less white on them than the traditional Fleckvieh animals do, and are also a darker brown, almost to a red. Most of these animals will have less white on the underbelly (some none at all), with a little white on each leg, primarily from the knee and hock joint down. They still maintain the white face, however most will have the patches over the eyes, and the white may or may not extend up past the poll. You may find some modern Simmentals may still have a white stripe from the shoulder down to the elbows, or from the top of the loins to the flanks.
     • Fullblood or Straightbred Simmentals may be all black, all red, black and white, black with only a white face, or red with only a white-face. You may even find some with their faces half-white and half-brown. Still others may have an all-brown face with one or two longitudinal L- or I-shaped patches down their forehead to their muzzle. Fullbloods, to get these colourations, are often bred to Red Angus, Angus or Hereford cattle. You will most often get Black and black-white-face Simmentals from an infusion of Angus genetics. Red and red-white-face Simmentals are often a result of breeding this breed with Red Angus. Other Simmentals as described in the previous bullet point above, can be fullbloods or straight breeds if they have been infused with Hereford genetics.
   • Body type and characteristics: Simmentals are big animals. Cows often weigh anywhere from 1200 lbs to 1800 lbs; Bulls can weigh from 1600 lbs to 2800 lbs. A Simmental bull will have more muscle mass over his shoulders and hindquarters than a cow will. Both cows and bulls are blocky-looking beasts, but don't have that rectangular look like Limousins do, even though the muscular traits of being classified as a Continental breed are present. Simmentals tend to have more of a looser and pendulous dewlap (from their chins to their briskets) than either Limousins, Angus or Herefords do, and this pendulous dewlap make bulls look like they have a goatee on them. The pendulous dewlap is a good way to distinguish this breed from other breeds that are also have black cattle, like Charolais, Gelbviehs, Maine Anjou, Salers, and Limousins. Cows tend to have a largish udder on them (though still smaller than the Holstein), since they have been historically used as a milk cow in the Swiss Alps.
   • Head characteristics: All Simmental bulls will have curly hair on their foreheads, some more noticeable than others. The characteristic gouté as mentioned above also is a typical characteristic of many bulls. A Simmental's head may look long like a Holstein's, forming a flat plane from the poll to the nose, but do not have as long a muzzle as Holsteins do. A Simmental also does not have as wide a mouth or loose-looking lips as a Hereford does, or, the lips on a Simmental are a little more trimmed- and refined-looking than a Hereford. Simmentals may be horned or polled, with the horns being quite short and jutting out and up. Most modern Simmentals are polled, however, in accordance of the cattle market's demand for polled cattle over horned.
   • Other characteristics: Simmentals, though adapted to the rough mountainous terrain of the Swiss mountains, are not as adapted nor equipped to handle the rougher and tougher ranching conditions as Herefords or Angus cattle are. This is because Simmentals are notorious for having calving issues, and consequently need far more assistance during calving periods than any of the British breeds are. They do, however, finish and grade well in a feedlot--even better when they are crossed with a British breed--and are one of the most popular breeds raised in the USA and Canada today, next to Angus and Charolais. In addition to their excellent milking ability, they tend to be quite docile and even-tempered.
3. Memorize the details and characteristics of this breed.
   
4. Go on a field trip or road trip and see if you can find farms or ranches with Simmental cattle. Take pictures of what you thought were Simmental cattle, and compare them with pictures of Simmentals on the Internet and in your Cattle breeds book.
   

Tips

• There are actually four different types of Simmentals that are registered to the American Simmental Association and Canadian Simmental Association: Fleckvieh-Simmental, the traditional purebred Simmentals that have their genetics traced back to Switzerland; purebred modern Simmentals; Fullblood Simmentals; and straightbred Simmentals. The last 3 types are more common in North America than the Fleckviehs.
• You will find confusion with Simmentals that have been crossed with Angus and Red Angus breeds. Often these "Simmentals" will look more like an Angus than a real Simmental.
• In Canada, you may come across advertisements of cattle referred to as "Super Baldies." These primarily refer to white-faced Simmentals crossed with Red or Black Angus cattle. H-2 cattle are in reference to Simmentals crossed with Herefords (called a Hereford-Fleckvieh hybrid).
  • In the USA, Super-baldies primarily refer to Brahman cattle crossed with Simmentals or Herefords or a Hereford-Simmental-Brahman mix.
• Use the ear colouration, dewlap, and muscularity to decipher the differences between an Angus bull and a Black Simmental bull. You may be up to your ears in this sort of challenge though.

Warnings

• Try to not get confused between purebred Aberdeen Angus cattle and those Red and Black Simmentals. However that may be a bit of a difficulty because even veteran cattle-folk can get confused when they're trying to tell whether a particular animal is really a Simmental, especially if they were given a picture of a Simmental that looked a bit like an Angus. So please be careful here.
• Don't get Simmentals confused with Herefords. Remember the muscularity, size, ear colouration, lack of white on the neck, and pendulous dewlap if you see some Simmentals that may, to you, look like Herefords.

Related wikiHows

• How to Identify Black Angus Cattle
• How to Identify Red Angus Cattle
• How to Identify Limousin Cattle
• How to Identify Charolais Cattle
• How to Identify Hereford Cattle
• How to Identify Cattle Breeds

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How to Show a Woman That You Care

Have a special someone in mind? Wish to strengthen a friendship or relationship? Follow these simple steps to show a woman that you care for her.

Steps

1. Invest in her happiness. There is no better way to show her you care.
   
   • Tell her how much you adore her every day! Everyone wants to know that they are loved and appreciated.
   • Learn and encourage her dreams. The more you support them, the more she’ll want to include you in them.
   • Take care not to hurt her. Even if circumstances change, make sure she thinks of you with a smile.
2. Respect her mind, body, and soul. She is a unique individual with dreams and secrets you have yet to uncover.
   
   • Make her your top priority. Nobody wants to play second fiddle to their partner’s job, hobby, family or friends.
   • Accept her and cherish her for who she is; after all, she's the only one who will always be there for you if you treat her right.
   • Remember that you're not the only man in this world; there’s a man out there who will love and care for her if you won't.
3. Be trustworthy. Prove that you can be counted on daily, not just for big promises.
   
   • Make sure your actions reflect your words. It’s one thing to declare your love and admiration but another thing altogether to act on it.
   • If you make a promise, follow through -- no matter how small. Keeping a big promise every now and again isn’t nearly as significant as keeping your end of the bargain on day-to-day stuff.
4. Pay attention to her. Make sure she’s in your thoughts and not just your presence.
   
   • Every time she is speaking to you, make an effort to look her in the eyes.
   • If you don’t understand something she says, tell her instead of playing along. This will show her that you’re listening and want to really understand what she has to say.
   • Ask questions. Engage actively instead of listening passively.
5. Be unconditionally honest with her. Telling her the truth is the best way to build a healthy and trusting relationship.
   
   • Even small lies to spare feelings or save face can become problems later on.
   • While being honest is very important, remember not to be insensitive. Try to take her feelings into account and express your thoughts in a constructive, not destructive, way.
   • Realize that deep down she's a 'soul', just like you. Then it would be much easier to care.
6. Practice random acts of kindness. Be creative.
   
   • Call her when you’re not together to tell her that you’re thinking about her.
   • Send her a little note through the mail while you're away. Snail mail is used so little nowadays that it will feel like a real treat.
   • Paste a note on her mirror telling her that you love her.
   • Leave her a flower for no reason whatsoever.
   • Pick a dandelion from the sidewalk and put it in her hair. Remember, most women prefer an unexpected gesture over a dutiful gift.
7. Spend quality time with her. She wants to be your friend as well as your lover.
   
   • Simply making time to switch off the TV, sit down, and talk with her will show that you care, to say nothing of the fact that you enjoy her company.
8. Take her advice into consideration. Whether she shares her thoughts on an everyday matter or a life-changing episode, showing her that you value her input will help build a respectful, equal relationship.
   
9. Let her know exactly how you feel. Look within. What does this woman really mean to you?
   
   • Write it down. Give it to her. Don't be afraid to let her know.
10. Never lose contact for an unreasonable length of time. Show her that although you're apart, she’s on your mind.
    
    • If you haven’t seen her for a few days, call her to tell her how much she means to you and that you can't wait to see her again.
11. Never take her for granted. Men often forget what it's like to be alone; take the time to appreciate how she has made your life better or she may not feel like it’s worth the effort.
    
    • Write her a thank-you card for the little things she does. Be specific; it’ll let her know you noticed.
12. Remember that some women are extroverts, and easily say what they feel, whereas others are introverted, and less likely to do so. It's as simple as that, and there is probably no conspiracy to evade or be passive aggressive on her part. If she seems unhappy, kindly ask, "What's going on? Can I help?" and that should be enough to start the conversation.
    
    • If you feel that something is wrong in your relationship, try to find a time when both of you are calm and collected and talk to her about it. Gently ask her if there is anything that is making her unhappy, and listen to what she tells you.
    • While you should not try to change yourself for another person, you should be willing to change your behavior. Compromising on certain habits will go a long way in keeping a relationship happy.

Tips

• Step in and help her without being asked. Show her that you are there for her.
• Try to give her the good life that she so deserves, emotionally and physically. You can never expect to receive if you do not give.
• If you know she is sensitive about something in particular, be more careful about that subject.
• Turn off the TV and turn on the romance!
• Take time to be a generous lover and remember to cuddle after sex. It's often said that for women sex is about emotional intimacy. But love isn't always about sex. You know that you are in love when you don't need sex.

Warnings

• Remember to give yourself to her as she has given herself to you. You may be surprised how effective an equal commitment is to your relationship.
• While you should absolutely not give the woman you love the impression that you may have forgotten about her, you should also give her some space. Don't try to be in every aspect of her life, all the time. Not spending every single day together may well make the days you do spend together that bit more special.
• Be sincere in all that you do. Never do something for a woman just because you feel that you are "duty-bound." Similarly, never use something you have done for her as blackmail to get your own way. This will make her suspicious of kind acts in the future and destroy trust in your relationship.
• If you're getting your lady chocolates or food for a special day, be sure to know if she has any allergies.

Related wikiHows

• How to Treat a Woman
• How to Pass It On
• How to Have a Long and Happy Relationship
• How to Show Others You Care

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How to Fold a Spring Roll

Spring rolls are a favorite in many Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese restaurants. They are most delicious when dipped in the usual sweet and sour sauce. Spring rolls can also be enjoyed at home, with a minimum of effort and can be eaten at anytime and for any meal or occasion. Learn how to fold them properly and the rest is easy. If you want to know how to fold a spring roll, see Step 1 to get started.

Steps

Using the Burrito Method

1. Lay the wrap out flat. If you're using a round piece of dough, then you can lay it out any way you like. If you have a square piece, then lay it out like a diamond.
   
2. Make an egg mixture. Crack a raw egg into a small bowl and fork whip it until it blends completely. This will help create a mixture that folds the roll together. Once you cook the roll, it will be safe to eat. If you're using rice paper or another wrap that you don't plan on cooking, then you can not use the egg mixture to secure the wrap because it will be raw.
   
3. Dip a pastry brush into the egg mixture and brush the two opposite sides of the wrap (top and bottom). This will help these parts of the wrap stick together when the time comes.
   
4. Place the filling on the rolls. Place this on the sheet near the bottom and spread it out in a line. This line should be about 1/2 to 2/3 inches tall. Make sure that the line doesn't overflow off the sheet. You want to leave enough room on each side of the wrap that you can comfortably fold the wrap without the contents spilling out.
   
5. Fold the left and right sides of the wrapper over the mixture. Just fold each side over until they just touch each other, or come close to touching each other, over the filling.
   
   • Some people like to fold the top and bottom of the wrap first, and then tuck the sides over the top and bottom before they roll them.
6. Fold the bottom of the wrap up over the filling. Be careful to tuck it under the front side of the mixture, the side away from you.
   
7. Continue to fold the roll. When the line of mixture isn't visible because it is under the sheet, fold the sides near the end of the line. Hold those down while you continue to fold. Make sure that you are folding with your hands in the middle of the line of mixture.
   
8. Once the folds on the side are covered up on the side, roll the sheet through. Your spring roll is now ready to cook!
   
9. If the last corner won't fold, spread some egg mixture onto it and stick it to the rest of the roll. This should do the trick.
   
10. Continue the rolling method for the rest of your spring rolls. You can make as many as you like, or just make one for yourself.
    
11. Fry them until they're golden brown. Just 2-3 minutes on each side should do the trick. Put a bit of oil on a frying pan and fry the rolls over medium heat. Give them a minute to cool off and they're ready to go.
    

Using the Envelope Method

1. Place your spring roll on a plate in the shape of a diamond. If you use rice paper, which is traditionally used in many spring rolls, then you should read the instructions on how to prepare it. You may have to place it in hot water for fifteen seconds to get it ready. Each of the four corners should be pointing out, so that it is in the shape of a diamond, not a square.
   
   • Keep in mind that, unlike the first method, you can't use egg paste to help the roll stick together because this roll is already cooked. You don't want to put raw egg on it if you don't plan on cooking it.
2. Put the filling in the lower center of the spring roll, horizontally. Now, scoop in the filling so it lies horizontally from left to right, with at least 2 inches (5 cm) of space between the filling and the left and right corners. This will keep the filling from coming out the sides. It shouldn't be put in too high -- just an inch (2.5 cm) or so at most -- so that you have plenty of space to fold the roll over the filling.
   
3. Fold the bottom corner over the filling. Now, pick up the bottom corner and fold it over the filling, so the bottom corner is now facing the same direction as the top corner. About an inch (2.5 cm) or so of the corner should be folded above the filling, so that there's still a good 2-3 inches (5 - 7.5 cm) between the bottom corner and the top corner.
   
4. Consider tucking or rolling the bottom corner over the filling (optional). Some people like to tuck the top corner into the filling, so it disappears into the ingredients. Some like to even roll it over the ingredients one full rotation, to secure them there. Others prefer to go the traditional route and to keep the corner folded up -- it's your call.
   
5. Fold the left corner into the middle of the roll. Fold the corner over, so it points in the opposite direction, in the middle of the roll. It should begin to resemble an envelope.
   
6. Fold the right corner into the middle of the roll, to meet the left. Now, just do what you did on the right side of the roll. The left and right corners should just touch. Now, you've almost finished making your envelope. Right now, it should look like an envelope with the filling inside and the flap facing up.
   
7. Roll the bottom up until you've finished folding the spring roll. Now, just roll from the bottom upwards until you've fully folded the spring roll using the envelope method. Now, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy your delicious treat.
   

Video

Tips

• Take your time and slow down. It will pay off.
• Be gentle with the sheet. It is very thin and tender.

Things You'll Need

• Sheets for spring rolls
• The mixture that you made earlier/filling
• Bowl for mixture and egg
• 1 egg
• Pastry brush
• Ice cream scooper

Related wikiHows

• How to Make Egg Rolls
• How to Make Spring Rolls
• How to Make an Origami Spring

Sources and Citations

• http://ift.tt/1evL0yS
• http://ift.tt/1LPZOLn
• http://ift.tt/1H87MQW

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How to Come Up with a Good Book Title

A good book title is important and it can persuade an editor to read your manuscript. Good titles attract readers to look twice at your work. Give your work the best chance of being picked and read by coming up with a title that will blow your publisher away.

Steps

Brainstorming

1. Finish writing the book. You can come up with a working title early, but don't stress over it. Once the book is finished, you can revise the title so that it makes sense with the entire work.
   
2. Recruit a friend or editor. Ask someone to join your brainstorming session. Brainstorming with another person is faster, more effective, and more fun than thinking about it yourself. Ask the other person to read your book.
   
   • Meet in a quiet, relaxed location so you can both focus on your work. Put on unobtrusive music if it helps you think.
3. Decide the book's main purpose. Read your book and think about its identity. Think of titles related to the central message, or to the main emotion it inspires. Talk to your friend about what inspired you to write the book, and how you felt as you wrote it. These conversations will guide you to a title that fits the story and your personality.
   
   • Different people may interpret your work in different ways; let each person involved in the brainstorming session list their ideas. Share the lists of ideas with each other.
   • If you're stuck, brainstorm keywords that cover your book's main themes and story.
4. List favorite lines in the book. Write down favorite phrases from your work. These may not work as book titles, but they can give you raw material to play with.
   
5. Consider naming the book after the main character. Think of titles that mention the main character of the book, or a group of characters. For example:
   
   • Jude the Obscure
   • Julius Caesar
   • Anne of Green Gables
   • Little Women
6. Reference the setting. This can be a good choice if the setting is a key part of your work, or if it's an unusual setting that attracts attention. For example:
   
   • Little House on the Prairie
   • Through the Looking Glass
   • The Jungle Book
   • 50,000 Leagues Under the Sea
7. Consider poetic or mysterious names. Your title can address the book's themes or inspiration rather than the exact content. Mysterious titles intrigue readers who are looking for something poetic or unusual. For example:
   
   • The Shadow of the Wind
   • Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
8. Balance mystery and clarity.^[1] Just like book covers, book titles need to give enough information about the book's subject without giving away too much, in order to make the reader curious. The way the author works with these two elements - clarity and mystery - really depends on the type of book. For non-fiction, clarity is more important (especially for books that focus on a very specific topic). For fiction, mystery is more important.
   
9. Draw people in with a short, punchy title. This is a popular approach for nonfiction books. The title should give the reader an idea of the book's topic, but it doesn't need to be an exact description. For example:
   
   • Thinking, Fast and Slow
   • How Not to be Wrong
   • Good to Great
   • Made to Stick
10. Address the reader's problems. Think of titles that relate to common life experiences, especially ones that promise solutions to the reader's problems. Books with these titles range from self-help books to literary novels. For example:
    • How to Get Happy
    • The Awkward Age
    • If necessary, use a subtitle to clarify any misconception. How to Be a Man is a very different book than How to Be a Man: A Memoir of the Rocky Mountains.
11. Look at other book titles in similar genres. Browse book titles online or in bookstores and libraries. Don't even consider using an existing title, but good titles spark ideas for other good titles. Identify what appeals to you about the title, and brainstorm ideas for your book with similar characteristics.
    
    • Titles aren't protected by copyright, at least in the United States, but unique phrases may be trademarked.^[2] You're probably safe if you go with a well-known phrase, but you're still risking confusion at the bookstore.
12. Dare to come up with titles written in other codes. Can you express your book's essence with a mathematical expression, a musical term, or a foreign language? Foreign phrases, especially Latin ones, are fairly well-understood among readers, and these may give your title an international feel. For example:
    
    • 4-1=0
    • De Profundis
13. Aim for a large number of titles. Use all of the techniques above, until you have 25 possible titles or even 50! If the titles are not good, they can spark more ideas and discussions.
    
    • You can combine more than one of the above techniques. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets mentions both a character and a setting, and foreshadows the climax of the novel.

Making Adjustments

1. Narrow it down. Go through your list of ideas and pull out ten favorites. Follow the steps below to evaluate each title. Examine each title. If there's no clear winner, narrow it down to your favorite four or five and repeat the process.
   
2. Critique your title. Review the title with your editor, publisher, or a friend whose judgment and scrutiny you can trust. Would it attract the attention of people who would enjoy your work? Is it memorable? Does it relate to the contents of your book?
   
3. Say your title out loud. How does it sound? Does it have good flow and rhythm, making it easy and pleasant to say? If the title sounds strange, or is difficult to say, or breaks grammatical rules, you'd better be confident that the style matches your book.
   
4. Stay concise. Keep your title as short as possible, no longer than a few words. Long titles are difficult to remember, and rarely reach out and grab a passing reader.
   
   • If you think it's necessary to add more detail, attach a subtitle. For example, the cover of Wild Swans shows off the short, punchy title, and adds the informative subtitle Three Daughters of China in much smaller text.
5. Sketch a cover for your book. Sketch a simple book cover just to get an idea of the title's impression. Play with different arrangements of the title and your name. Does it pop out at you from the shelf? Is there a drawing that would work particularly well with the title?
   

Tips

• Once you've decided on a title, search for it online to make sure it won't be confused with another book.
• As a final test, imagine reading your own obituary. Is this the book title you'd want mentioned?
• Biography and memoir titles are often a little oblique, mentioning the subject's name but giving an unusual glimpse of the subject's life.
• Hold your brainstorm just before you sleep. People tend to be more creative at this time, and if you're lucky, this effort will provoke dreams which can lead you to more ideas.

Related wikiHows

• How to Come up With a Good Title
• How to Come up With a Good Idea
• How to Hold a Used Book Sale
• How to Come Up With a Business Idea
• How to Make a Comic Book

Sources and Citations

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