GLB History

Original Swiss Braunvieh, imported by Golden Link

Ledi

Erle

Forelle

Never before has a beef breed been so right at the most needed time in the history of the American Cattle Industry

Life, with its many twists and turns, has a certain amount of fate and good fortune involved.

It was just one of these encounters that Harlan Doeschot experienced in 1983 while visiting Switzerland for the purpose of importing new Simmental bloodlines.

While touring the countryside and viewing numerous herds of cattle, Harlan was intrigued by a brownish colored cow which he thought to be Brown Swiss. But, upon further investigation, he was surprised to learn that these cattle that so impressed him were in fact Braunvieh - the original beef Brown Cow. A short historical fact bears mentioning. The breed officially known as Braunvieh has been separated from the milking Brown Swiss since 1880, with its own breed book and registration.

His curiosity piqued and his sixth sense tingling with excitement, Harlan dispatched his assistant to go out and linear measure some of these Braunvieh cattle.

The first day's results were impressive to say the least, and the second and succeeding days were equally gratifying. What the measuring was telling him was that these cattle were superior in quality and uniformity to any cattle they had measured in years.

Harlan knew "down in his gut" that these Braunvieh cattle were the "type and kind" that he had dreamed of breeding all his life.

Armed with renewed enthusiasm in an industry that was going through terrible economic upheaval at the time, the decision was made to import some Braunvieh to Golden Link.

The story is not finished, nor will it ever be. But recent events substantiate the inner feelings of a cattleman who knew deep down that these cattle could and would have a positive impact on the beef business.

Recent research results show the Braunvieh to excel in many of the economic trait areas, and user demand is increasing at a frenzied pace due to the positive results experienced by those who have used Braunvieh bulls on their cowherds. The fact that recent changes in the cattle industry are coming to a Braunvieh "type" beef animal further strengthens this breed's position in today's marketplace.

Sambo

The first original Braunvieh Bull Imported into the United States by Golden Link in 1983

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