Cattle

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Cattle

Switzerland is the country of origin of the Braunvieh (“brown cattle”). The Original Braunvieh is an original Swiss dual-purpose cow breed. This means that it is suitable for both milk and meat production. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Switzerland exported Braunvieh to the US. It was here that the Brown Swiss breed was born. Today, most Braunvieh in Switzerland are a re-cross with Brown Swiss genetics from the US. The reason for this is their higher milk yield.

Holstein Friesian

Holstein Friesian cows have a black and white coat and produce an especially large volume of milk. They are one of the most important dairy breeds worldwide. The red and white version, called the Red Holstein, is also very common in Switzerland. The breed has its origins in the US, where farmers who had immigrated from Europe continued to breed cows from Friesland or Holstein.

Swiss Fleckvieh

The Swiss Fleckvieh is a red-and-white-spotted cross between a Red Holstein and a Simmental. It is a milk-producing dual-purpose breed.

Simmental

The Simmental originates from the Bernese Oberland. From here, the dual-purpose breed has become established at a global level and is one of the most important breeds worldwide. It is often crossed with other breeds. In Switzerland, however, we still have the original, pure Simmental. It has a bright red-white coat.

Jersey cow

There are also other breeds for milk production. The Jersey cow is a particularly pretty breed with its delicate stature and black-rimmed eyes. Its milk has a higher protein content than any other dairy breed.

Suckler cow husbandry

In the area of suckler cow husbandry, farming families put their faith in beef cattle breeds. The variety of breeds is greater than that of dairy cows. Known breeds include the Angus, Charolais, Limousin, Hérens and Grauvieh as well as Scottish Highland cattle. The beef breeds can be recognised by the fact that they have a more powerful build than the milk-producing breeds.

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Animal welfare

Many farmers do more than the strict Animal Welfare Act requires. They take part in animal welfare programmes and produce for labels. Checks are conducted to ensure that the rules are observed.

Animal welfare

Meat

Swiss meat stands for the utmost quality, which requires high-quality meat-processing workmanship alongside high animal welfare and health standards. Pork and beef are the favorite meat varieties in Switzerland.

Meat