Organisation

The Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association of New Zealand Inc. was formed in Kaponga on 13th February 1973, for the purpose of introducing the breed to New Zealand. Imported Brown Swiss semen was not available that year, so the first matings took place in 1974, with the first half-breed calves being born in 1975.

Foundation Stock

Pure bred Brown Swiss semen from bulls of European and North American origin were used. Dams of most breeds have been used as base cows for the commencement of an upgrading programme of displacement breeding.

Brown Swiss Today

More than 16,000 animals have been registered in NZ through the Association, with several hundred others in non-breeder herds. The Brown Swiss is the second largest dairy breed in the world with a reported 8 million-plus registered cattle and a world population estimated at over 14 million head.