CHAPTER VII 

 BROWN SWISS 



Origin. There are two distinct and leading breeds of 

 cattle in Switzerland and several minor ones closely related 

 to them. In the western portion, including the region around 

 Berne, the Simmenthaler or Fleckvieh is the common breed. 

 This is a large-boned, spotted red and white breed used for 

 milk and beef as well as for work. They have not been im- 

 ported into this country. The other Swiss breed, known in 

 Switzerland as the Braunvieh or Schwyz and in America as 

 the Brown Swiss, is found in the northeast part in the can- 

 tons of Zurich, St. Galen, Luzern, and Schwyz. 



This breed is probably one of the oldest in existence and 

 is supposed to be descended from the cattle which have been 

 used in this locality since before historic records began. 

 According to Keller this breed represents the Bos sondaicus, 

 the smaller of the two types of wild cattle supposed to have 

 been domesticated. Bones found in the ruins of the Swiss 

 Lake Dwellers, which date back to the Bronze Age, show a 

 type of cattle which are apparently closely related to the 

 present Swiss cattle. It is not believed that any consider- 

 able infusion of foreign blood ever has been introduced. 

 Th'3 Brown Swiss is one of the few breeds originated on the 

 Continent of Europe that is used outside of its native locality. 

 This breed has spread over about one half of Switzerland 

 and largely into the noted dairy districts of Algau in Bavaria. 



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