General Info

The Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders' Association of the USA was formed in 1880 when a group of Brown Swiss breeders organized themselves in Worcester, Massachusetts. The main purpose of the Association was to establish an official herdbook for Brown Swiss cattle. The herdbook was put under the care of the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association who at that time was Mr. C. B. Metcalf. From 1881 to 1942, a herd record book listing all animals registered and transferred was published. By 1942, the numbers had become too large and the printing costs too high. From 1942 through 1980, the Association relied on a card file system to serve as an official herd book. When a computer was installed in the national office in June of 1980, a data file system to store the official herd book records was developed. While this system served its purpose, the next major upgrade occurred in 1995 when a PC-based network system replaced the mini-computer system. In 2008, a modern online database system was developed by InSinc, allowing breeders to register cattle online in real time. The national headquarters of the Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders' Association of the USA is in Beloit, Wisconsin. The Association purchased their building at 800 Pleasant Street in Beloit in December of 1936 and moved there in 1937. As has been the case for many years, two of today's primary functions of the Association are the registry and transfer of Brown Swiss cattle. In addition, the Association provides accurate performance data, such as production records and type classification information, in the form of performance pedigrees. In 2008, registrations totaled 10, 824, which has been fairly consistent since 1996, and transfers were up as 4, 086 head changed hands. Domestic demand for registered Brown Swiss by new Brown Swiss owners is a real testimonial to the nationwide enthusiasm for Brown Swiss. In 2008, there were 789 active national members in the Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders' Association of the USA and over 900 national junior members. This too is a reflection of the high interest level in Brown Swiss. As Watertown, Wisconsin dairy producer, John Winkelman, who milks Brown Swiss and Holsteins, states in the June 2, 2000 edition of the Wisconsin State Farmer, there are many advantages over the Holstein such as good feet and udders, and the ability to handle the heat better. During last year's hot spell, the Swiss in the herd had no problems breeding while the Holsteins did have problems. Winkelman also states, Right now they are the hottest breed in the country, because their milk is higher in protein. The Brown Swiss cow has made tremendous milk production increases over the last few years. Since 1997, the milk production has increased over 2, 500 lbs. The average 305 day ME pounds of milk production in the Brown Swiss breed is 22, 026 pounds of milk, 875 pounds fat, and 726 pounds protein. Milk producers throughout the world are adding Brown Swiss to their herds daily because of the good milk, protein and butter fat production, and their correct feet and legs that allow them to stay in the milking herd for more lactations than many other breeds. And Brown Swiss have one of the lowest somatic cell count averages of all dairy breeds.