Dairy Breeds

Dairy Breeds — Brown Swiss

Location:

Dairy Barn, Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

About:

As its name suggests, the Brown Swiss breed developed in Switzerland. However, “brown” is a bit of a misnomer, as the coat is usually grey/beige. Brown Swiss cows are large, robust, and very gentle. They are also naturally strong and rugged, having developed in pastures 3500 metres above sea level. The Swiss government supported the Brown Swiss’s development by offering prizes and subsidies for the best females and bulls in the country. The Brown Swiss’s average milk production is 25 litres per day, same as the Ayrshire. Like Guernseys, Brown Swiss cows produce milk with a high fat content.

Back to top