History

2021Redesign homepage: Restructuring and redesign of the website
2020Introduction of SWISScow chip
Introduction of Performance testing owner control
Discontinuation of performance tests and linear description due to Corona pandemic from mid-March until beginning of May
2019Launch of electronic accompanying document (eBGS) as an app for milk inspectors.
Development and implementation of the brand strategy "Brown Swiss" in cooperation with the European Brown Swiss Cattle Association
2018Launch of herd management app "SmartCow" as a result of collaboration within the data network between Braunvieh Schweiz, swissherdbook, Mutterkuh Schweiz and Swissgenetics.
Introduction of the breeding value estimation (ZWS) mastitis resistance.
2017New breeding program with abolition of Bruna test farms; new division into Bruna Data (LBE, health data collection & genom. typing) and Bruna Classic (LBE) compulsory
2016Introduction of the pasture breeding value (WZW) for OB cows and the introduction of the TMI in 1'000 scale.
Introduction of electronic order processing of genomic selection
Offer of an AuctionNet
2015Roll-out Braunvieh Academy (5 modules) in various regions
Launch of Braunvieh event "Braunvieh bi dä Lüüt" at HB farms in various regions
Bylaws review: budget authority now to the Board
Anniversary: 125th sire market in Zug
Relaunch k-casein bulk milk test "Fromalys"
2014Introduction of genomic testing for Original Braunvieh
Introduction of the lab service FERTALYS
Introduction of the consulting service for the so-called “production system contributions”
2013Introduction of BrunaNet Mobile
Introduction of the health data collection
Introduction of the Electronic Mailbox (paperless herd book).
20129th World Congress of Brown Swiss breeders, BRUNA 2012 with European Exhibition on 6-8 December 2012 in St. Gallen.
Re-launch of CHbraunvieh and Braunvieh Schweiz website and review of Braunvieh Schweiz corporate identity across all communication tools.
Access to social media via Facebook.
Refurbishment of the Tract III completed. The Braunvieh Schweiz staff relocate to the refurbished rooms in Tract III.
2011Start of the Elite Cow program.
By resolution, the Assembly of Delegates changes the name of the federation into Braunvieh Schweiz.
Introduction of Mastitis Identification (MID).
Foto: Suisselab
1 January: milk analytics outsourced to Suisselab AG in Zollikofen.
1 January: IT and breeding value estimation outsourced to Qualitas AG.
2010Joining of the Jersey Cattle Association as a new collective member.
Construction of the new Tract II at the Federation’s headquarters.
2009Decision to cooperate with swissherdbook for milk lab, IT and breeding value estimation.
Introduction of genomic selection.
2008Launch of SchauNet (animal registration for livestock exhibitions via BrunaNet).
Introduction of Kappa-Casein test for bulk milk or individual cows.
European harmonization of Linear Type Evaluation and cow classification.
2007Rules and regulations for breeding value estimation to ensure the quality of progeny testing.
2006Adjustment of the correction factors in milk performance tests.
2005Introduction of the SBZV print center for members and third-party customers.
Introduction of SBZV breeding advice.
Continuing Education Team Breeding Consultancy 2017
Introduction of international estimated breeding values for productive life.
2004Introduction of the Acetone Test.
Inclusion of milk flow in total merit index and fitness value.
2003New estimated breeding values for female fertility; inclusion of NRR and waiting period in TMI, fertility index and economy index; international estimated breeding values for somatic cell count.
2002Introduction of estimated breeding values for fertility.
2001Base adjustment TMI, milk production index, fertility index, economy index (mobile base, adjustment of the estimated breeding values in May each year).
2000Introduction of estimated breeding values for productive life, test day model for milk traits and base adjustment, TMI, milk production index, fertility index, economy index.
Launch of the electronic marketplace on homepage and BrunaNet.
1999Introduction of estimated breeding values for somatic cell count, animal model for morphology and launch of the mating program on BrunaNet (first online mating program worldwide).
1998Launch of BrunaNet (first IT system for Brown Cattle breeders worldwide).
BrunaNet Team June 1998
1997100th anniversary and world conference.
1996Launch of SBZV Homepage.
1995Introduction of the breeding value for OB cows on the basis of the OB cow population.
1993Introduction of the quantitative urea determination.
1992For the first time, the formulation of the breeding aim is divided into a text part, that is adapted to today’s conditions, and a second part mentioning concrete requirements.
Introduction of the BLUP animal model.
1991Introduction of the somatic cell count.
1990Kappa-Casein typing.
Zurich Cantonal Brown Cattle Show, Uster April 1989
1988General breeding value for cows and introduction of the fixed genetic base.
1983Introduction of estimated breeding values for cows used in planned mating.
1978The number of first inseminations with BS sires is – for the first time – higher than the number of inseminations with OB sires.
Introduction of the general protein determination.
Anna Eichhorn in the herd book of that time
1971-1978Large-scale test for the use of Brown Swiss sires. The purpose of BS mating is the enhancement of the genetic variance of Brown Cattle, the increase in milk yield as well as the improvement of the height at withers and the precocity.
1967Preliminary test for the use of Brown Swiss sires.
1964Introduction of the production points.
1963Start of the milking ability test.
1958Introduction of livestock population control in mountainous regions.
1954Milk weighing that has so far been done by the owners is substituted with the official monthly control weighing.
1952A delegation of the Board of Directors representing the Swiss Brown Cattle Breeders’ Federation travels to England with a view to clarify the truth about artificial insemination (AI).
1950A strong resolution against AI is urged at the Assembly of Delegates.
1949A delegation of the Board of Directors representing the Swiss Brown Cattle Breeders’ Federation travels to England with a view to clarify the truth about artificial insemination (AI).
Breeding bull market Rapperswil, reading the horn brand in 1947
1939-1945In the years of war, the word “efficiency” appears for the first time.
1938The Swiss Brown Cattle Breeders’ Federation relocates its headquarters from Lucerne to Zug.
1935The Confederal herd book Office is suspended. The tasks are conferred to the newly established handbook Office of the Federation.
1933First edition of the informational “bulletin”.
1930Around 1930, the real triumphal procession of the “beautiful cow” begins.
1921Milk control weighing is introduced.
1920Foundation of the Confederal herd book Office governed by the Confederation.
1913Introduction of the pedigree certificate.
1st revision of the Federation’s statutes.
1910Headquarters are relocated to Lucerne.
1902First milk yield tests.
18977 February: foundation of the “Federation of Swiss Brown Cattle co-operatives”. Its headquarters are in Buenzen, canton of Aargau. First president elected is Dr. P. Knüsel, cantonal veterinarian of the canton of Lucerne. First director: Heinrich Abt.
First president elected is Dr. P. Knüsel
First director: Heinrich Abt
1887Foundation of the first breeding co-operative (Dürnten in the Zurich Highlands). From then onward, new foundations of breeding co-operatives can be registered all over the country. The Confederation encourages them with a contribution of CHF 300.00 to each foundation.
1880Officially there remains one “entity” only, i.e. the “Swiss Brown Cattle”.
18791st Swiss herd book “Register of noble representatives of the Brown Cattle breed”.
1856/1862Successes at the exhibitions in Paris and London, the first exhibition places to be visited. Visitors from America showed big interest in the exhibited cattle from Switzerland.
1848The Swiss Confederation decides about economic measures to encourage cattle breeding. Various cantons exert influence on cattle breeding.
Till 1848Whereas clearly defined breeding predominated on big monastery manors such as Einsiedeln, Engelberg, Muri and their surrounding areas, broad domestic breeding on little farms was left to its own device.
515 A.D.Servatius, general to the Gothic King Theoderich, characterized that Alemannic cattle – in comparison to the local cattle – as ‘more precious due to their height’. Researchers of medieval history suppose that these Alemannic cattle originated from cross-breeding the wild urus, very common in middle Europe, with the small Germanic-Celtic domestic cattle. In our region an intermixture with the local ‘Torfrind’ occurred rather quickly. Only the cattle from the valleys of Grison have their own history. They originate from the ‘Torfrind’. The Rhaetian peoples were a pastoral tribe that immigrated together with their own breed in the fourth century. This breed had Primigenius blood flowing in its veins, but it originated from central Italy (Tuscany). As a whole, our Brown Cattle can in fact be ascribed to the group of Shorthorn Cattle (bos brachyceros) with strong influences from the European urus (bos primigenius Bojan). Until recently, the question about the background of the sharp dividing line between Brown Cattle and the Simmental in our country remained unanswered. However, in the context of the “National research program on Swiss identity (NF 21)” the historians discovered a mysterious Napf-Reuss line in the course of their investigations into the remains of Celtic heritage. Not only does this line separate the juridical laws regarding heredity transmission of the farms, pagan customs, French and German playing-cards, but also the Brown Cattle from the Simmental Cattle. This means that the breed boundaries have Celtic roots.
200 A.D.Following the fall of the Roman Empire, the eastern part of our country was settled by the Alemannic peoples, a Germanic tribe with a special relationship to their animals. They brought along their own cattle.
2000-4000 B.C.In the territory known as Switzerland today, the oldest traces of human settlements are found by the lakes on the edges of the Alps. They originate from the lake-dwellers of the Bronze and Iron Age. Among their domestic animals they had the ‘Torfrind’ (Bos Brachyceros), a small, graceful animal with fine limbs and short horns. According to bone findings, their height at withers may have been around 120 cm and their weight around 400 kg. These cattle originating from the East (Caucasia and the Near East) represent the basis and therewith the point of departure of all cattle breeds from the central and eastern Alpine regions, thus also for our Brown Cattle.