This dual purpose breed (beef & dairy), originates from the Jura Mountains on the Swiss boarder of France, where it has been bred for over 200 years.
The cows still graze on the rich, natural pastures of the foothills today, producing milk for some of France’s greatest cheeses, along with the highest quality beef.

Today, no less than 9 AOC cheeses quote the Montbeliarde milk in their
list of requirements (Comté, Morbier, Mont d’Or, Bleu de Gex, Reblochon, Abondance, Tome des Bauges, Bleu de Vercors Sassenage, Canatal).
This confirms how highly the Montbeliarde milk is regarded by cheesemakers.

Montbeliarde beef is widely regarded as meat of exceptional quality –
certified by such labels as Montbeliarde Qualité and Carrefour Filière
Qualité (Carrefour Supermarkets Premium Quality Range).

In the Montbeliarde, we have a breed that has the ability to meet the
demands of today’s consumer, delivering consistent high quality
products from sustainable farming.

 Health Benefits

Conjugated Linoleic Acids (CLA) is a beneficial trans fat found
predominantly in the meat and dairy products of grass fed animals.

During various initial trials, CLA’s have proven to have substantial health benefits. The results indicate CLA’s are advantageous to combat obesity
(as it increases metabolic rates), reduce the risk of skin, breast, colon and prostate cancers and may help to prevent adult onset diabetes.

Many people are now taking CLA as an expensive health supplement,
although it can be obtained far more simply through foods such as
whole milk, butter and beef.

“Tests carried out by Teagsac in Ireland prove that Milk Fat CLA levels from Montebeliardes were significantly higher than standard black and white Holstein Fresians.”– Dr Pat Dillon – Dairy Production Research Centre –
Co Cork – Ireland.

The Montbeliarde breed was essentially created from the Free Switzerland race.
The Mennonites farmers from Switzerland were a religious sect wandering from country to country seeking religious freedom and were instrumental in bringing
the breed to the Jura region of France. These farmers settled in a small area of
the Jura called Montbeliard.

Under the influence of the Mennonites farmers, agriculture thrived thanks to a
better food supply and with a well established breed (Free Switzerland), had a
cow population with better conformation and better productivity than the average with high fat and protein properties. They had a true local race characterised by
its harmony of forms and beef qualities. In 1872 Joseph Graber, using the name Montbeliarde, selected a batch of cows to show at the Langres agricultural show. This was the first time the breed name Montbeliarde was used. In 1889 the breed was exhibited at the World Fair in Paris and although the breed originated in Switzerland, the Herd Book was created on 2nd December 1889 by farmers and vets from Montbeliard.