Brown Swiss, cattle breed native to Switzerland and probably one of the oldest breeds in existence. While these cattle are classified as a dairy breed in the United States, they are often considered a dual-purpose breed elsewhere, as they are heavier boned and thicker fleshed than the cattle of the other dairy breeds.

Switzerland is the country of origin of the Braunvieh (“brown cattle”). The Original Braunvieh is an original Swiss dual-purpose cow breed. This means that it is suitable for both milk and meat production. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Switzerland exported Braunvieh to the US. It was here that the Brown Swiss breed was born.