Swiss Brown
(most common name in English)

local/other name (French):
• Brune suisse
• La race Brune Suisse
local/other name (German):
• Schweizer Braunvieh
• Schweizerisches Braunvieh
• Schwyz
local/other name (Italian):
• Bruna Svizzera
local/other name (Portuguese):
• Bruna Svizzera
historical breed name:
• Rigi

The Swiss Brown began development through selective breeding of grey-brown Alpine cattle by Benedictine Monks at Einsiedeln Abbey (Kloster Einsiedeln) in the canton of Schwyz beginning in the 10th century.

The Swiss Brown is the origination of all Brown Mountain cattle breeds and has been described as ‘a distinct and noble breed … [one] of the most valued and important breeds in Europe’ (US Department of Commerce, 1888a).

• 1897 - Swiss Brown herdbook established initially combining Schwyzer Einsiedler, Appenzeller and others, including belted (Gurtenvieh) and colorsided animals
• 1869–1910 - Swiss Brown exported to USA and over time becomes (American) Brown Swiss
• 1960s - American Brown Swiss genes introduced into Swiss Brown

The genome of the Swiss Brown is now over 75% American Brown Swiss.

There are now two Swiss Brown breeds reported in Switzerland:
• Braunvieh - listed as a composite of Schwyzer Einsiedler, Appenzeller, Gurtenvieh and others, plus the Brown Swiss (USA)
• Original Schweizer Braunvieh (Original Swiss Brown) - listed as the original type of Swiss Brown without Brown Swiss (USA) genes; dual-purpose

The Swiss Brown can be described as:
• grey-brown, varying from light to yellowish or silver to dark brown
• bulls darker than cows
• black muzzle
• almost white muzzleband
• light-colored hair inside the ears
• black hoofs
• horns with black tips 30–50 cm (approx. 12–19 inches
• polled (rarely)

This page was last updated on: 2023-08-19

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My Daily Cow® Switzerland and read about other Swiss cattle breeds.

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