Morphology of Carpathian Braunvieh

The Carpathian Braunvieh cattle, an unassuming three purpose autochthonous breed of the Carpathian basin established by cross-breeding of the Schweizer Braunvieh and three local breeds Mokanitza, Riska and Busa, approximately 150 years ago. Since it wasn’t competitive with the modern high-productivity breeds, in the last decades it becomes rare and endangered. University of Debrecen presumed that-despite the long period of uncontrolled breeding - the population kept in Hungary is still differs from the other Braunvieh-type breeds, bred across Europe. We carry out body measurements, scaling 14 size traits and calculate the substantial trait rates to compare with literature. Based on body measurements data and live weight we found that the examined breed is roughly uniform. On the strength of its morphological traits, the breed is clearly distinct from the high productivity Brown Swiss. The current Hungarian population favours to the one lived in Hungary in the 1960’s, and to another, named Ukrainian Carpathian Brown. We established that – thanks to the aware sorting - the Hungarian population still represents the ancient, primitive Carpathian variant

Origin, history and utilization possibilities of Carpathian Braunvieh at Hungary

The Carpathian Braunvieh was established by the cross-breeding of Braunvieh and the small dun mountain breeds of the Carpathian basin. It has been breeding in Hungary about 100 years before and still living in Transcarpathia and Transylvania, but only in very mixed populations. Since it was a characteristic native cattle breed of the country, it should be retain for future generations and re-establish in Hungary. Our primary aim is to preserve the breed’s genetic resources and - if appropriate - to acclaim it as an indigenous breed. If there are no longer residuals of the old type Carpathian Braunvieh, it is still worth to preserve as a local variety, because of its many favourable features. Above all, it’s our duty to maintain the breed, because neither Transcarpathia nor Transylvania has a breeding programme for it