Traditional mountain cattle breeds are a vital part of the Nordic region’s history and cultural heritage. For thousands of years, native cattle in northern Fennoscandia – notably the Northern Finncattle (also known as Lapinlehmä), the Swedish Mountain Cattle (Fjällko), and the Sidet Trønder og Nordland cattle (STN) of Norway – have co-existed with local communities in Arctic conditions. Through centuries of adaptation, these animals evolved unique traits that enabled both the cattle and the people who depended on them to survive in harsh climates and marginal pastures. For example, Nordic Mountain Cattle can thrive on variable forage and mountain pastures, and withstand long, cold winters – qualities that could prove crucial for future sustainable food production in the face of climate change and declining global biodiversity.
Despite their importance, specific characteristics, shared history, and previously reported genetic relationships, these three transboundary Nordic cattle breeds had not been thoroughly characterised or utilised prior to the 3MC project. Much of their story – from historical herd migrations to traditional knowledge of breeding and husbandry practices – was at risk of being lost as older generations pass on and archives remain unexamined. Recognising this gap, the project was conceived not as an attempt to address all aspects of this complex field within a single initiative, but as a novel and exploratory effort to bring together diverse sources of information for the first time. By combining historical, cultural, and genetic perspectives primarily for communication and awareness‑raising purposes, the project aimed to open new pathways, demonstrate the value of an integrated approach, and lay the groundwork for more targeted and in‑depth work to follow.