Rätisches Grauvieh
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| Conservation status | FAO (2007): endangered-maintained[1]: 112 |
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| Country of origin | Switzerland |
| Distribution | Graubünden (Grisons) |
| Use | dual-purpose: milk and beef |
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| Coat | grey |
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The Rätisches Grauvieh is an endangered Swiss breed of cattle from the Graubünden region in eastern Switzerland. It is a smaller type of the Tiroler Grauvieh breed of Alpine grey cattle. In the 1920s, it was absorbed into the Braunvieh population. In 1985, the population was re-established through the introduction of cattle of the similar Albula type from Austria. Like the Rhaetian Alps, it is named after the Ancient Roman province of Rhaetia.
History
[edit]In Graubünden, in eastern Switzerland, there were two strains of the Alpine Tiroler Grauvieh: the large and heavy Oberländer type, and the smaller Albula type.[3] They were triple-purpose animals, reared for draught use, milk, and meat.[4] In the 1920s, they were absorbed into the Braunvieh population. In 1985, cattle of the Albula type were re-introduced to the area from Austria by ProSpecieRara in order to re-establish the breed.[5]: 284 [3] In 2015, a population of 2,000 was reported.[6]
Only five of the 35 cattle breeds once documented in Switzerland remain today, including the Rätisches Grauvieh.[7]
Characteristics
[edit]The Rätisches Grauvieh has a grey-black coat and curved horns. It is a robust and undemanding breed, well suited to extensive Alpine agriculture. Its ability to thrive on rough forage makes it especially adapted to mountainous regions. Today, it is primarily kept as a dual-purpose breed for milk and meat.[8]
The breed is also known for its calm temperament, vitality, and suitability for high-altitude terrain. It is described as undemanding and adaptable, and is valued for traits such as good fertility and ease of calving.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to: The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
- ^ Marleen Felius (1995). Cattle Breeds: An Encyclopedia. Doetinchem, Netherlands: Misset. ISBN 9789054390176.
- ^ a b c d e f Rätisches Grauvieh (in German). ProSpecieRara. Accessed January 2017.
- ^ Die Geschichte (in German). Rassenclub Grauvieh Schweiz. Accessed January 2017.
- ^ Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
- ^ Breed data sheet: Rätisches Grauvieh/Switzerland. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed January 2017.
- ^ "The difficult search for real Swiss cows". Swissinfo. 7 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ "Rätisches Grauvieh und Parli-Kartoffel als Kulturgüter". Swissinfo. 1 September 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ "Rätisches Grauvieh". Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen e.V. (GEH). Retrieved 28 June 2025.
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