Fjall cattle are a dual purpose breed bred for both milk and meat production. It is also known by other names such as swedish mountain, Fjallras, swedish highlands and the breed comes from Sweden.
The breed has a history at least since the Viking Age and was first recognized in the late 19th century. Fjall cattle were introduced to Britain when the Vikings arrived and descended into the British Caucasian breed that now inhabit Viking habitats such as East Anglia.
They were also mentioned in 1296 AD. They almost disappeared, mainly in the 1970s-1980s, mainly due to numerous crossings. The Swedish Rock Association was established in 1995 and since then the total number of animals has gradually increased.
It is estimated that in 1000 there were 1998 breeding cows in Sweden. Learn more about the breed below.
Characteristics of mountain cattle
Fjall cattle are smaller animals with all-white, all-black, or all-red coats. They have no horns and are naturally polled. The average height of adult cows is about 125 cm at the withers, and that of bulls is about 135 cm.
Adult bulls weigh on average about 350 kg. And the average live weight of mature cows is about 300 kg. Photos and information from Wikipedia.
Advantages
Fjall cattle are dual purpose animals. They are suitable for both milk production and meat production. But these days they are bred primarily as a dairy breed of cattle for milk production.
Special Notes
Fjall cattle are hardy animals and are often bred in the mountainous regions of Sweden. Although a dual purpose breed, they are currently bred primarily for milk production.
They have one of the best grass to milk production ratios. They are able to survive in infertile soil and can also survive cold winters. On average, they can produce around 5,500 kg of milk per year.
Their milk is of very good quality, containing about 4.5% milk fat and about 3.6% protein. The breed is also well suited for meat production. They are generally docile and have a very good temperament. See the full breed profile of Fjall cattle in the table below.
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| Breed name | Fjall | |
| another name | Swedish mountains, Fjelras, Swedish highlands | |
| Purpose of the breed | milk and meat | |
| Special Notes | Hardy, active, well adapted to the local climate, good quality milk, docile temperament. | |
| Breed size | Little | |
| Bulls | About 350kg | |
| cows | About 300kg | |
| climatic tolerance | native climate | |
| coat color | Completely white, completely black or red | |
| horned | Interviewed | |
| milk production | Very well | |
| scarcity | general | |
| Country/place of origin | Sweden |
