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
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. They were triple-purpose animals, reared for draught use, milk, and meat. 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. In 2015, a population of 2,000 was reported.
Only five of the 35 cattle breeds once documented in Switzerland remain today, including the Rätisches Grauvieh.
Characteristics 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.
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.
References 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. . Archived 23 June 2020.
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. .
Die Geschichte (in German). Rassenclub Grauvieh Schweiz. Accessed January 2017.
Breed data sheet: Rätisches Grauvieh/Switzerland. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed January 2017.
Marleen Felius (1995). Cattle Breeds: An Encyclopedia. Doetinchem, Netherlands: Misset. .
Rätisches Grauvieh (in German). ProSpecieRara. Accessed January 2017.