Race Bovine Vosgienne
A very robust race originally from Scandinavian countries, the “vosgienne” can travel over all types of terrain, even the most rocky. It is not easily affected by sudden temperature changes and stress and is perfectly suited to the difficult conditions of mountain breeding. It is generally speckled black in colour, at times reddish, with a white line on its back extending from the neck to the tail.
It is generally small and its horns are short and delicate. The Vosgi cow is suitable for milking and for meat. It produces an average of 4,000 litres a year and its meat, although still rather unknown, is valued by connoisseurs.
The Vosgi cow was mentioned for the first time in the 17th century, during the invasion of the of Vosgi Range by the Swedish army in the thirty-year war.
Its milk is balanced and rich and it is excellent for making Munster and Bargkass, two cheeses on board the Arca del Gusto.
At the end of the 19th century, when they were more numerous (125,00 heads), the Vosgi race started to decline in number. Agricultural policy at the end of WWII was focused on mass production. The aim was to direct the country towards alimentary independence, and the Vosgi race was not suitable for this strategy.
The Vosgienne was eliminated from the official catalogue of the bovine races, in favour of more competitive and productive races such as Montbéliarde (5,600 litres a year). In the ’70s a plan was started to protect the race that then numbered only 3,000.
Today the selection programme for the Vosgienne is aimed at improving its qualities and promoting its milk. There are now 11, 000 examples on the Vosgi Range and only thirty or so breeders with pure herds.
Back to the archive >Les premières évocations de vaches Vosgiennes apparaissent au XVIIème siècle lors de l’invasion du massif Vosgien par les armées Suédoises durant la guerre de trente ans. Son lait équilibré et riche - nul besoin de retirer la crème pour faire du fromage - permet la fabrication du Munster AOC et du Bargkass.
Depuis son apogée à la fin du XIXème siècle (125 000 têtes), la race bovine Vosgienne n’a cessé de voir ses effectifs diminuer. Suite aux deux Guerres Mondiales, la politique est à la production de masse pour conduire le pays à l’indépendance alimentaire, or la Vosgienne ne peut satisfaire pleinement cette politique. Rayée du catalogue officiel des races bovines, la Vosgienne devient une race menacée car elle est notamment mise en compétition avec la Montbéliarde plus productive en lait (7600 l / an). Aujourd'hui, il y a 70 fois moins de vosgiennes que de Montbéliardes. Un plan de relance a vu le jour dans les années 1970 quand l’effectif était au plus bas (3 000 têtes). Aujourd'hui, le programme de sélection de la race Vosgienne a pour objectif d'améliorer ses aptitudes laitières et la valorisation de son lait tout en conservant le type mixte de la race et ses aptitudes à la marche.
Aujourd'hui, 11000 têtes sont recensées sur le Massif Vosgien et seule une trentaine d'éleveurs sont en cheptel 100% vosgiennes.
