Description: These sweet cows are considered by many people to be the oldest breed of dairy cows, or milk cows.
Characteristics: The Brown Swiss cow has, as is stated in the name, a gray-brown coloring. Brown Swisses can also be light brown in coloring. They have a creamy white muzzle and a dark nose. These cows also have a dark blue eye pigmentation which helps these cows to resist extreme solar radiation. Brown Swiss cows also are very balanced.
Mature Brown Swisses: A mature Brown Swiss cow weighs about 1,300 to 1,400 pounds. A mature Brown Swiss bull weighs about 2,000 pounds. Brown Swiss cows are rugged and have strong legs. They also have tough and strong bodies. Brown Swisses can endure many different climates.
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History: These cows were bred in the north-eastern part of Switzerland. Evidence shows that these cattle were bred about 1,000 years ago. The Brown Swiss breed is descended from the cows of the rocky valleys and mountain slopes in Switzerland. The cows that Brown Swiss cows are descended from were grazed at high altitudes, which are why Brown Swiss cows today have a ruggedness to them. The first recorded Brown Swiss cows came into the US at around 1869.
Brown Swiss Milk Production: The Brown Swiss cows produce lots of milk, with up to 9,000 kilograms of milk per year. This milk is very high in quality and is constantly used for cheese-making. It is high in butterfat and protein! Brown Swiss milk has smaller fat globules in its cream, making the cream rise slower than others.
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