Grauvieh in Canada?

On October 20th. of 2009 we inquired with the Tiroler Grauviehzuchtverband in Austria – the breed association of the Tyrol Grey cattle – about importing Grauviehsemen to Canada. We have a keen interest in cross-breeding our Braunvieh with what in the last century was still considered the same type of cattle but of a different region: the Grauvieh. While Braunvieh in North America have changed to being large-framed beef animals, Grauvieh are still a medium framed double utility (dual purpose) animal suitable for small farms, as Braunvieh once were. A small type of Grauvieh - called the “Raetische Grauvieh” and of the size of Irish Dexter cattle – exist, in which we are particularely interested. We are hoping to obtain semen from Grauvieh bulls which are similar in size to this small type.

Herr Hausegger from the Tiroler Grauviehzuchtverband has been very willing to help. We are currently in the process of selecting semen from two bulls, and have to make sure the bulls’ semen will meet all the requirements of the Canadian government  for import.