It was threatened with extinction in the 1970s and 1980s, but recovered after a breed association was formed in 1995, partly thanks to stocks of frozen semen.

Microsatellite analysis has shown it to be closely related to the endangered Bohuskulla breed.

A text from 1296 AD describes cattle that are "small, hornless, white or whitish grey, often with dark spots".

[8]: 13 Stocks of frozen semen from pure-bred Fjällras bulls born in the mid-twentieth century helped in the recovery of the breed, and allowed the effective population size to be increased.

[3] The traditional Fjäll has divided into two sub-breeds, the Svensk Fjällras[3] and the Fjällnära Boskap.