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How Now Brown Cow

Although she’s second in milk production only to the Holstein and well-known for her docile personality, the Brown Swiss never caught on with the popularity of some of the other milking breeds. For the Smith family of East Dixfield, there’s no other breed they would rather have in their barn.

The Smith family of More Acres Farm in East Dixfield with the herd favorite and eldest milk cow - a Brown Swiss named Revlon. Pictured from left are Les, Judy, MJ, Amber, Matt and Stephanie. The Smith family of More Acres Farm in East Dixfield with the herd favorite and eldest milk cow, a Brown Swiss named Revlon. Pictured from the left are Les, Judy, MJ, Revlon, Amber, Matt, and Stephanie. The first Brown Swiss cow dairy farmer Les Smith’s father owned wasn’t much of a milker.

“She didn’t give milk, but everyone loved her disposition,” Les said.

In 1961, the Smith family of More Acres Farm originally bought dairy cows as nurse cows to supplement their Beef Shorthorn calves and promote their growth. Hollis Smith started with beef cows in 1938 on a couple of acres in-town Dixfield.

“He started accumulating more cattle. People told him, ‘If you’re going to buy more cattle, you’re going to need more acres,” said Les’ wife Judy. “Hence the farm name, More Acres.”

At the farm’s height, it covered 800 acres. The farm Hollis bought that Les and Judy still farm with their son Matt and his family in East Dixfield, came equipped with a Sears Roebuck milking machine and four milk coolers in the barn. He decided to start milking cows.

“We had some graded, not registered Holsteins and Jerseys. We tried Ayrshires back when they had big, longhorns,” Les said.

It was the Brown Swiss though, her personality, calm nature, and gentleness that was really the start of More Acres becoming a dairy farm.

“They’re pretty hard to beat as far as disposition,” Les said.

There was just that tiny issue of her not giving much milk …

“We looked for better ones,” Les said. “My father told people, ‘It’s a breed I think we could help.’ At that time there were some small herds in Vermont, New York, and Ohio,” Les said.

Brown Swiss is not a popular breed like the Holstein or Jersey. His father started buying the best he could find until More Acres became the largest Brown Swiss breeder in the state of Maine. Today, they milk about 30 Brown Swiss cows and ship their milk to Horizon Organic.

A barn full of Brown Swiss cows at milking time on More Acres Farm. A barn full of Brown Swiss cows at milking time on More Acres Farm.

It’s another gentle soul in the barn that is the Smith family’s prize possession, an 11-year-old Brown Swiss named Revlon. Calves born on the farm are named with the same first letter as their mother. In this case, R.

When Revlon was born, she had dark lines around her eyes like eyeliner. She was named for the famous makeup line. She descended from Matt’s line of 4-H show cattle and was a winner in her own right.

“Oh, yes!” Judy said. “She won her share of championships.”

Along with the Brown Swiss, the family also shows their Beef Shorthorns and sheep. But Revlon’s been a favorite of everyone in the Smith family.

“It’s just the way she is,” Les said.

Unlike the family’s first Brown Swiss, Revlon is a milker. Even at her advanced age, she still produces 70-80 pounds of milk (nine or more gallons) each day. Her latest calf, Ripley, will be M.J.’s show animal this year.

“If she were in school, she’d get straight A’s,” added Matt’s son Matthew Jr. (M.J.)

MJ and Ripley MJ with his 4-H show calf, Ripley. The Brown Swiss cow is a North American breed derived from the Alpine Braunvieh, German for “brown cow.”

Since July is National Ice Cream Month, I decided to make a super simple brown coffee ice cream recipe in honor of this brown cow. This is also a great way to use leftover coffee.

coffee ice cream

More Acres Brown Swiss’ Coffee Ice Cream

  • 2 cups brewed coffee
  • 3/4 cup of sugar
  • 2 cups of cream
  • 3/4 cup whole milk

Directions

Simmer coffee in a saucepan on the stovetop on medium to high heat until it is condensed down to 1 cup. Stir in sugar until dissolved and remove from heat. Chill thoroughly.

In a bowl, add the chilled coffee to the cream and milk. Mix well and chill again. Follow the instructions on your ice cream maker to complete.

Optional

Top with a few chocolate-covered espresso beans.

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