Bruna Italiana
(most common name)
(transboundary/brand name):
• Brown Swiss
(local/other name):
• Bruna alpina (= Brown Alpine)
• Svitto
• Svizzera
local/other name (English):
• Brown Mountain
• Italian Brown
• Italian Brown Alpine
• North Italian Brown
Since the 1970s, the Bruna Italiana has been improved with the Brown Swiss (USA). This caused the breed to lose its dual-purpose characteristics, but increased its milk yields and fat percentages; improved udder characteristics and a reduction in age at first calving also resulted.
However there was worry that the Brown Swiss influence would cause adaptive problems in their high-elevation alpine farming system. Small herd sizes (the average is 20) have helped.
Bruna Italiana milk is used mainly for cheesemaking.
This page was last updated on: 2023-05-15
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