Évolène
An endangered dual-purpose breed from the Swiss Alps, pied red or black with horns in both sexes
A traditional dual-purpose cattle breed from the canton of Valais in Switzerland, kept for milk and meat and well suited to Alpine pastures. They are medium-sized, horned and muscular, with a pied red or black coat and a famously fiery temperament.
- Endangered dual-purpose breed from the canton of Valais, kept for milk and meat
- Pied red or pied black coat with horns in both bulls and cows
- Cows produce around 3,200 kg of milk a year on Alpine pastures
- Swiss herd estimated at just 400 to 450 head in 2015
- Saved from extinction by ProSpecieRara through herd books since the late 20th century
What do Évolène cattle look like?
Évolène cattle are a medium-sized mountain breed with a strong, muscular frame. Cows show especially well-developed muscles along the neck, which gives them a powerful front end. The coat is pied, mostly on a red base, though pied black animals also occur. Both bulls and cows carry horns. Bulls stand roughly 130 cm at the withers and weigh 600 to 700 kg; cows are noticeably smaller, measuring between 115 and 125 cm and weighing 400 to 500 kg.
Where does the Évolène come from?
By the end of the 19th century, Valais farmers began selecting for a uniform brown coat, and the pied Évolène population fell steeply. The closely related Eringer, by contrast, became the fashionable choice. A Swiss conservation foundation called ProSpecieRara stepped in to save the breed by setting up breeders' associations and a herd book, work that started in the late 20th century and continues today. In 2015, climate researchers pointed to the Évolène as an old Swiss line whose hardiness could matter more as the weather shifts.
What the Évolène is known for
Temperament is on the spirited side. Cows regularly fight each other to sort out social rank, and these bouts can run on for some time. The breed is also known for being thrifty, holding its condition on sparse Alpine feed, and stock-keepers report fewer health problems than with larger, higher-yielding breeds.
How the Évolène is bred and kept
ProSpecieRara, a Swiss foundation devoted to rare livestock and crops, has been the main organiser of breed conservation since the late 20th century. It helped to form breeders' associations and to set up herd books so that pedigrees can be tracked and inbreeding avoided. Selection focuses on keeping the breed's genetic diversity and traditional traits intact, rather than pushing for higher output.
Évolène, drawn
What the Évolène is kept for
Farmers keep Évolènes chiefly for two products. On average a cow yields around 3,200 kg of milk in a year, enough to make the breed useful for dairy purposes on Alpine farms. Their sturdy build and good slaughter yield also make them a practical choice for beef, and most herds are run as dual-purpose operations in the mountains.
The land and climate of the Évolène
The breed sits at home on the high slopes of the canton of Valais, on Alpine pastures that can be harsh and exposed. Compared with bigger commercial breeds, Évolènes need less feed to get by, and they appear to handle cold mountain weather and rough grazing with ease.
At a glance: where it belongs
Land and climate
Numbers, conservation and the herd book
In 2015, the total Swiss population was estimated at only 400 to 450 head. The breed is classed as endangered, and the small size of the national herd makes the work of ProSpecieRara and the breeders' associations all the more important. Animals are kept mainly within Switzerland, and the breed has not been widely exported.
Questions people ask about Évolène
Where do Évolène cattle come from?
They come from the canton of Valais in Switzerland, where they have been kept on mountain farms for generations.
What are Évolène cattle kept for?
They are a dual-purpose breed, used for both milk and meat. Cows average about 3,200 kg of milk a year.
What do Évolène cattle look like?
They are medium-sized and muscular, with a pied red or pied black coat and horns in both sexes.
Are Évolène cattle rare?
Yes. The breed is classed as endangered, with only about 400 to 450 head recorded in Switzerland in 2015.
Are Évolène cattle hardy?
They are well suited to cold Alpine pastures, need less feed than bigger commercial breeds, and are reported to suffer fewer illnesses.
Good reading and sources
- Évolène cattle on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Évolène cattle", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryCow rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Sizes, colours and customs differ from one herd, valley or breeder to the next. Folk beliefs are described as tradition, never as advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-16.
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