The dairy sector is an important income source for many rural families in the Peruvian high Andes. The currently low performance of dairy cattle is one of the limiting factors. So far, initiatives have been started to set up a routine milk recording system for Brown Swiss cattle,  but there is no clear breeding scheme defined. Farmers combine the use of national and imported semen of Brown Swiss bulls or use natural mating of locally available bulls. Therefore, the project aims to further strengthen the routine milk recording scheme and develop a breeding program using genomic information. The project will be implemented in three study sites in the central highlands of Peru, ranging from 3200 to 4400 masl. Brown Swiss cows, with different genetic backgrounds, will be compared under the same smallholder conditions. In a participatory approach, all relevant stakeholders such as farmers´ associations, regional governments, the national AI station, and the Ministry of Agriculture, will be involved in the design of a breeding program to guarantee its long-term sustainability and wellbeing of rural families.