BS Breed Facts

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BROWN SWISS ARE KNOWN FOR DAIRY STRENGTH

Originating in the Swiss Alps, Brown Swiss adapt well to high altitudes and hot or cold climates, while producing large volumes of milk, ideal for cheese-making. Their unique ability to yield high components with an ideal fat-to-protein ratio sets them apart from other dairy breeds.

Correct feet and legs, well-attached udders and dairy strength contribute to their exceptional productive life, allowing them to thrive in any modern dairy set-up. Style, balance and fancy frames also make Brown Swiss easy winners at county, state, national and international shows.

Breed Facts

Brown Swiss cattle can be grey, dark brown, tan or even almost white in color. Their hooves, muzzle and switch are usually black. They are often noted for their docile temperament.

Perhaps the oldest of all dairy breeds, Brown Swiss originated in the valleys and mountain slopes of Switzerland around 4000 B.C., according to some historians.

Today, the beautiful Brown Cattle can still be found across the globe, including in the United States, where the largest concentration is in Wisconsin, Iowa and Ohio. The world population of Brown Swiss is reported to be about 4 million, which ranks either first or second in world-wide population of dairy cattle. The Brown Swiss you see grazing across the United States countryside descend from initial importations of 25 bulls and 140 females from Switzerland.

Breed Fact

Brown Swiss are known for their docile, friendly disposition. A Wisconsin youth leads his heifers from pasture. If you lead one, usually the rest will follow.

Breed Fact 2

On average, Brown Swiss cows weigh about 1300-1400 pounds, while bulls weigh almost 2000 pounds! This Ohio bull weighs in at 2100 lbs.
 


Breed Attributes

Brown Swiss are low-maintenance, high producing, adaptable cows that live a long time and make money for dairy producers.

High Production

Brown Swiss yield large volumes of milk with high components, boasting an ideal fat-to-protein ratio for cheese-making. For this reason, Brown Swiss producers often receive more money per 100 pounds of milk than owners of other breeds. A low somatic cell count also contributes to the demand for Brown Swiss cattle. The average 305d ME for Brown Swiss is 23,090 pounds of milk, 935 pounds of fat, and 767 pounds of protein.

Adaptability & Longevity

Brown Swiss withstand both hot and cold climates and thrive in a variety of terrains and management systems. Their longevity, dairy strength, and outstanding feet and legs make Brown Swiss cattle the obvious choice for modern dairy farms.

Breed AttributesBreed Attributes 2

Left:  Brown Swiss milk provides many marketing opportunities for dairy farmers because it meets both fluid and cheese market demands.  The large percentage of fat and protein components it contains enables farmers to receive higher premiums.  This Georgia dairy direct distributes their Brown Swiss milk.

Right:  Brown Swiss are very heat tolerant, but also do well in cold climates.  This Brown Swiss calf in Wisconsin stays warm with a bright pink calf coat.

BROWN SWISS GESTATION TABLE  =  290 DAYS

If bred within 10 days by different bull, parentage verification will be necessary. 

If Bred in Leap Year, add 1 to Due Date after February.   
If Due in Leap Year, subtract 1 from Due Date after February.
 

Bred JAN Due OCT Bred FEB Due NOV Bred MAR Due DEC Bred APR Due JAN Bred MAY Due FEB Bred JUNE Due MAR
1 17 1 17 1 15 1 15 1 14 1 17
2 18 2 18 2 16 2 16 2 15 2 18
3 19 3 19 3 17 3 17 3 16 3 19
4 20 4 20 4 18 4 18 4 17 4 20
5 21 5 21 5 19 5 19 5 18 5 21
6 22 6 22 6 20 6 20 6 19 6 22
7 23 7 23 7 21 7 21 7 20 7 23
8 24 8 24 8 22 8 22 8 21 8 24
9 25 9 25 9 23 9 23 9 22 9 25
10 26 10 26 10 24 10 24 10 23 10 26
11 27 11 27 11 25 11 25 11 24 11 27
12 28 12 28 12 26 12 26 12 25 12 28
13 29 13 29 13 27 13 27 13 26 13 29
14 30 14 30 14 28 14 28 14 27 14 30
15 31 15 DEC 1 15 29 15 29 15 28 15 31
16 NOV 1 16 2 16 30 16 30 16 MAR 1 16 APR 1
17 2 17 3 17 31 17 31 17 2 17 2
18 3 18 4 18 JAN 1 18 FEB 1 18 3 18 3
19 4 19 5 19 2 19 2 19 4 19 4
20 5 20 6 20 3 20 3 20 5 20 5
21 6 21 7 21 4 21 4 21 6 21 6
22 7 22 8 22 5 22 5 22 7 22 7
23 8 23 9 23 6 23 6 23 8 23 8
24 9 24 10 24 7 24 7 24 9 24 9
25 10 25 11 25 8 25 8 25 10 25 10
26 11 26 12 26 9 26 9 26 11 26 11
27 12 27 13 27 10 27 10 27 12 27 12
28 13 28 14 28 11 28 11 28 13 28 13
29 14 (29) (+1) 29 12 29 12 29 14 29 14
30 15     30 13 30 13 30 15 30 15
31 16     31 14     31 16    
                       
                       
Bred JULY Due APR Bred AUG Due MAY Bred SEPT Due JUNE Bred OCT Due JULY Bred NOV Due AUG Bred DEC Due SEPT
1 16 1 17 1 17 1 17 1 17 1 16
2 17 2 18 2 18 2 18 2 18 2 17
3 18 3 19 3 19 3 19 3 19 3 18
4 19 4 20 4 20 4 20 4 20 4 19
5 20 5 21 5 21 5 21 5 21 5 20
6 21 6 22 6 22 6 22 6 22 6 21
7 22 7 23 7 23 7 23 7 23 7 22
8 23 8 24 8 24 8 24 8 24 8 23
9 24 9 25 9 25 9 25 9 25 9 24
10 25 10 26 10 26 10 26 10 26 10 25
11 26 11 27 11 27 11 27 11 27 11 26
12 27 12 28 12 28 12 28 12 28 12 27
13 28 13 29 13 29 13 29 13 29 13 28
14 29 14 30 14 30 14 30 14 30 14 29
15 30 15 31 15 JULY 1 15 31 15 31 15 30
16 MAY 1 16 JUNE 1 16 2 16 AUG 1 16 SEPT 1 16 OCT 1
17 2 17 2 17 3 17 2 17 2 17 2
18 3 18 3 18 4 18 3 18 3 18 3
19 4 19 4 19 5 19 4 19 4 19 4
20 5 20 5 20 6 20 5 20 5 20 5
21 6 21 6 21 7 21 6 21 6 21 6
22 7 22 7 22 8 22 7 22 7 22 7
23 8 23 8 23 9 23 8 23 8 23 8
24 9 24 9 24 10 24 9 24 9 24 9
25 10 25 10 25 11 25 10 25 10 25 10
26 11 26 11 26 12 26 11 26 11 26 11
27 12 27 12 27 13 27 12 27 12 27 12
28 13 28 13 28 14 28 13 28 13 28 13
29 14 29 14 29 15 29 14 29 14 29 14
30 15 30 15 30 16 30 15 30 15 30 15
31 16 31 16     31 16     31 16

 

Brown Swiss Range of Recommended Heifer Weights and Heights

AGE
(months)
HEART GIRTH
(inches)
WEIGHT
(pounds)
HEIGHT
(inches)
1 34.4 - 36.1 134.0 - 162.5 31.7 - 34.3
2 38.0 - 39.8 187.1 - 222.7 33.7 - 36.4
3 41.4 - 43.2 240.0 - 282.8 35.6 - 38.4
4 44.4 - 46.4 292.5 - 342.9 37.3 - 40.2
5 47.3 - 49.3 344.7 - 402.7 38.9 - 42.0
6 49.9 - 52.0 396.3 - 462.2 40.4 - 43.5
7 52.3 - 54.5 447.4 - 521.2 41.7 - 45.0
8 54.6 - 56.7 498.0 - 579.7 43.0 - 46.3
9 56.6 - 58.8 547.9 - 637.4 44.1 - 47.6
10 58.5 - 60.7 597.0 - 694.4 45.2 - 48.7
11 60.2 - 62.4 645.3 - 750.4 46.1 - 49.7
12 61.8 - 63.9 692.7 - 805.4 47.0 - 50.7
13 63.2 - 65.4 739.1 - 859.2 47.8 - 51.5
14 64.5 - 66.7 784.5 - 911.8 48.5 - 52.3
15 65.7 - 67.9 828.9 - 963.0 49.1 - 53.0
16 66.9 - 69.0 872.0 - 1012.7 49.7 - 53.6
17 67.9 - 70.0 914.0 - 1060.8 50.2 - 54.2
18 68.9 - 71.0 954.6 - 1107.1 50.7 - 54.7
19 69.9 - 71.9 993.8 - 1151.6 51.1 - 55.1
20 70.8 - 72.8 1031.7 - 1194.2 51.5 - 55.6
21 71.6 - 73.6 1068.0 - 1234.7 51.8 - 55.9
22 72.5 - 74.5 1102.7 - 1273.0 52.2 - 56.3
23 73.4 - 75.4 1135.7 - 1308.9 52.5 - 56.6
24 74.3 - 76.3 1167.1 - 1342.5 52.8 - 56.9
25 75.2 - 77.2 1196.6 - 1373.6 53.0 - 57.2

By A. J. Heinrichs
Compiled from Standard of Weight and Height for Ayrshire, Brown Swiss and Milking Shorhorn Heifers, Heinrichs, A. J. and G. L. Hargrover, Journal of Dairy Science

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of Congress May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Legislature. L.F. Hood, Director of Cooperative Extension, The Pennsylvania State University.

Parts of the Dairy Cow

 

PARTS OF THE DAIRY COW 

PARTES DE LA VACA LECHERA

  1 Ears
  2 Poll, Crown
  3 Forehead
  4 Eyes
  5 Bridge of Nose
  6 Muzzle
  7 Nostril
  8 Mouth
  9 Chin
10 Cheek
11 Jaw
12 Neck
13 Throat
14 Shoulder Blade
15 Point of Shoulder
16 Dewlap
17 Brisket
18 Point of Elbow
19 Fore Leg
20 Knee
21 Shank
22 Sole
23 Dewclaw
24 Chest Floor
25 Heart Girth
26 Milk Wells
27 Fore Ribs
28 Mammary or Milk Veins
29 Fore Udder Attachment
30 Fore Udder
31 Flank
32 Teat
33 Rear Leg
34 Pastern
35 Hoof
36 Hock
37 Point of the Hock
38 Heel
39 Switch
40 Medial Suspensory Ligament
     (Udder Cleft)
41 Rear Udder
42 Stifle
43 Rear Udder Attachment
44 Tail
45 Thigh
46 Vulva
47 Pins
48 Tail Head
49 Thurl
50 Hooks
51 Rear Ribs
52 Barrel
53 Crops
54 Withers
55 Rump
56 Loin
57 Chine
58 Back
  1 Orejas
  2 Corona, Coronilla, Tuste
  3 Frente, Testuz
  4 Ojos
  5 Puente de la Nariz, Tabique Nasal
  6 Hocico, Morro
  7 Ollares
  8 Boca
  9 Mentón
10 Mejilla, Carrillo
11 Quijada, Mandíbula
12 Cuello, Pescuezo
13 Garganta, Gola
14 Hombro, Paleta
15 Punta del Hombro
16 Papada
17 Pecho, Punta del Pecho
18 Punta del Codo
19 Brazo, Antebrazo, Brazuelo
20 Rodilla
21 Muñeca, Caña, Metacarpo
22 Suela del Casco
23 Espolón, Mamón, Accesorio
24 Base del Pecho
25 Circunferencia (Linea) del Corazon
26 Nacimiento de Venas Mamarias
27 Costillas Anterior
28 Venas Mamarias
29 Unión Anterior de la Ubre
30 Ubre Anterior
31 Flanco, Ijar, Ijada
32 Pezones, Tetas, Tetillas
33 Patas Posterior
34 Cuartilla, Pastern
35 Casco, Pezuñas
36 Corvejón, Jarrete, Garrón
37 Punta del Corvejón
38 Talón
39 Borla, Mechón de la Cola
40 Ligamento Suspensorio Medio
     (Hendidura de la Ubre)
41 Ubre Posterior
42 Babilla, R ótula
43 Unión Posterior de la Ubre
44 Rabo, Cola
45 Muslo
46 Vulva
47 Isquión
48 Base (Desprendimiento) de la Cola
49 Articulación Coxofemoral
50 Tuberosidad, Punta de la Cadera
51 Costillas Posterior
52 Costillar, Barril
53 Espalda
54 Cruz, Crucera
55 Grupa, Anca
56 Lomo, Columna Lumbar
57 Columna Torácico, Espalda
58 Dorso, Espalda