The Montbéliarde cow breed

The Montbéliarde cow, with its charming gaze, is famous for its red marks drawn on a white coat. It is also identifiable by its head and legs that stay white most of the time. It belongs to the Red Pied family to which the Simmental and Fleckvieh also belong.

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It is a tall cow, measuring about 1.45m (4’75’’ ft) at withers height, also robust and elegant, and weighing between 600 and 750kg (1320 to 1650lb).

It is the result of a crossing between three breeds: the Fémeline and the Taurache (or Comtoise), two versatile breeds used in the Franche-Comté region in the 18th Century, and the Bernese from Switzerland.

After numerous actions from breeders and elected representatives in Franche-Comté, the Montbéliarde is recognized as an official breed in 1889.

This cow, which is now the 2nd dairy breed in France, is mainly recognized for its dairy qualities. It brings some cheese grands crus under Protected Designation of Origin (PDO, AOC in French) such as Comté, Saint Nectaire or Tomme de Savoie. Its meat is also appreciated for its authenticity and taste.

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The Montbéliarde is the symbol of the Franche-Comté countryside but it can be found anywhere in France and also abroad since it is highly appreciated for its longevity and adaptability.