Dala cows are not traditional symbols of Sweden; horses are the original, commanding the vast majority of the attention, though pigs and roosters are next most popular dala animals. But while they are not commonly carved and painted like a dalahäst, milk cows have long had a place on Swedish farms.

When it comes to milk production, Jerseys are known for averaging the highest components—butterfat and protein—of all dairy breeds. Their production is a lot lower than Holsteins, but the higher ratio of solids makes it popular for cheese-making—more curd for the whey.