Farm animal genetic resources in Switzerland
Evolène
A watchful Evolène cow at pasture in the mountains (Philippe Ammann / ProSpecieRara)
Origin and development
The Evolène breed, named after a village in the Val d’Hérens, was first mentioned in an 1859 Valais Cantonal Council report. At that time, it was not distinguished from the Eringer breed. But in 1885, with the introduction of breeding for uniform colour, the two breeds began to diverge. The breeders who favoured the pied animals chose not to breed them for combat: the Evolène was bred as a smaller, dual-purpose animal, for milk and meat production. Only a small stock of this lighter, pied dairy breed survived in the side valleys of the Rhône. In 1995, breeders from the Upper Valais united to establish the Evolène breeding association and the Evolène herdbook.
Description
The Evolène is frugal, robust and active. This dual-purpose breed should give a good milk yield relative to its body size. The cows have a withers height of 115–125 cm and weigh 400–600 kg. The base colour is red, chestnut or black, with white patches on the belly, tail and back. The white “star” on the forehead is a distinctive feature of this breed. 26
