Deutsches Braunvieh
(local/other name)

(most common name):
• Braunvieh
(transboundary/brand name):
• Brown Swiss
local/other name (English):
• German Brown

The Deutsches Braunvieh originated in the Allgäu Alps and descends from three ancient native grey-brown breeds:
• Allgäu (Allgäuer) - from south-central Germany and in the Vorarlberg area in Austria
• Württemberg Brown (Württembergisches Braunvieh) - from South Württemberg, Germany
• Tirol Grey Brown Mountain (Graubraunes Tiroler Gebirgsrind) - from several valleys on the border of Germany and Austria

A consortium of breed societies decided to combine these three breeds in 1926 and, along with the continuous use of Swiss Brown bulls, the Deutsches Braunvieh was developed.

From 1966 onwards, American Brown Swiss bulls were used so much that the Deutsches Braunvieh evolved into what is now known as the Braunvieh (with the transboundary name of Brown Swiss).

The Deutsches Braunvieh is no longer listed as a breed by Germany. However, they do list the Braunvieh alter Zuchtrichtung (Original German Brown).

This page was last updated on: 2023-05-16

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