CHAPTER XLI 



THE BROWN SWISS 



The native home of Brown Swiss cattle is in northern and east- 

 ern Switzerland, more especially in the section adjacent to Lake 

 Lucerne, in the cantons of Lucerne, Schwyz, Uri, and Zug. This 

 is a region combining beautiful valleys and high mountains. Dur- 

 ing the winter the cattle are kept in the barns in the lowlands, 



FIG. 204. A map of Switzerland showing the different cantons or provinces 



while in the summer they are pastured on meadows high up on 

 the mountains. Many stables are located in small Swiss villages, 

 and during the summer the cattle are each day driven out to pas- 

 ture and are returned at night. This is a hardy mountain breed 

 and in general subsists on pasture or hay, but very little grain 

 being fed. 



The origin of Brown Swiss cattle is probably prehistoric. Horns, 

 skulls, and other bones have been found in the Swiss lake dwell- 

 ings, dating back to the Bronze Age, that closely resemble those 

 of the Brown Swiss of to-day. It is generally conceded that the 

 breed is very ancient and that it has long been bred with much 

 purity and care by Swiss farmers. 



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