!!!Rinderrassen

Cattle Breeds: accounting for almost 80 % of Austrian cattle 
breeds,  Simmental Cattle is the most popular cattle breed in Austria. 
The animals are of medium to large size and range in colour from 
light-yellow to dark-red-brown spotted; cows weigh between 600 and 800 
kg, bulls between 1,100 and 1,300 kg; dual-purpose cattle 
producing an annual average milk flow of approximately 5,300 kg. 
Raised in the Berner Oberland Region as early as the Middle Ages, the 
Simmental breed was imported to Austria from 1830 and cross-bred with 
domestic breeds.

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Kaerntner Blondvieh: white to maize-yellow cattle breed raised in 
Carinthia, Styria and northern parts of Slovenia; cows weigh between 
500 and 600 kg, bulls between 800 and 850 kg. A cross-breed 
of Hungarian steppe cattle and alpine cattle, the Kaerntner Blondvieh 
has developed rapidly in Carinthia and Styria since the late 
18%%sup th/%  century. In the early 20%%sup th/%  century, the 
Kaerntner Blondvieh was particularly crossed with Franconian, 
Simmental and Rotbunte cattle breeds. Today the Kaerntner Blondvieh 
has almost disappeared.

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Waldviertler Blondvieh: cream to rust-coloured cattle raised in Lower 
Austria. Today often reddish-brown as a result of cross-breeding. Cows 
weigh between 500 and 550 kg, bulls between 800 and 850 kg; 
descended from Celtic Cattle and Mitteldeutsches Bergvieh (central 
German mountain cattle). Cross-bred with the Murboden, Franconian and 
Glan-Donnerberger breeds of cattle, particularly in the 19%%sup th/%  
and early 20%%sup th/%  centuries; gradually replaced by Simmental 
Cattle for better milk production; still kept in remote areas of the 
Waldviertel Region. A nucleus herd is kept south of Vienna. The 
Waldviertler Blondvieh Cattle Breeding Association was dissolved in 
1966.

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Murboden Cattle: raised in Styria and parts of Carinthia, Lower 
Austria and Slovenia. Cows are flaxen with a reddish and even 
light-grey touch with white spots; characteristic light-coloured 
triangle on the slate-blue muzzle; cows weigh between 550 and 
650 kg, bulls between 900 and 1,000 kg. Originally an 
"oxen breed", noted for its high beef quality and fast rate 
of weight gain. The Murboden breed was obtained by cross-breeding 
Bergschecken with Muerztaler Cattle by the River Mur/Mura. Very 
popular before the Second World War, then replaced by other breeds; 
cross-bred with Franconian Cattle. Some animals of the pure original 
type are in public ownership. - Muerztaler Cattle: light whitish-grey 
strain of the Murboden breed with yellowish-grey, grey or 
blackish-brown colouring; particularly popular in the Muerztal Valley.

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Braunvieh: solid brown to grey-brown breed of cattle; black muzzle 
with light-coloured frame. Cows weigh between 550 and 750 kg, 
bulls between 1,000 and 1,200 kg. Dual-purpose cattle with 
excellent milk performance (approx. 5,800 kg). Breeding started 
in central Switzerland approximately 600 years ago; has spread as far 
as Tyrol. The modern Braunvieh breed in Austria was obtained in the 
mid-1960s by cross-breeding with American Brown-Swiss. The Braunvieh 
is popular in Vorarlberg, West Tyrol, and northern parts of Styria; no 
specified breeding area except in Upper Austria, in Lower Austria and 
in Carinthia. - Montafoner Cattle: strain of the Braunvieh breed, 
raised in the southern part of Vorarlberg; of medium weight, heavily 
muscled, mostly middle- to dark-brown cattle with light-coloured 
dorsal stripe. Cows weigh between 500 and 600 kg, bulls between 
750 and 1,000 kg. Very popular in the 19%%sup th/%  century, from 
that time gradually transformed into the Braunvieh by cross-breeding 
with Brown-Swiss.

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Pinzgauer Cattle: of medium size, chestnut-coloured; native to 
Austria; developed in the mid-19%%sup th/%  century as a result of 
cross-breeding with cattle from the Wallis region (Valais, 
Switzerland); broad white stripe from the withers over the back and 
rear side of the thighs; belly, brisket and tail are white. Cows weigh 
between 550 and 650 kg, bulls between 1,000 and 1,100 kg.

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Ennstaler Bergschecken: fine-boned cattle raised in Styria; formed the 
basis for breeding the Pinzgauer Cattle. The last two cows of this 
breed were slaughtered in 1986.

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Pustertaler Schecken: obtained by crossing Eringer Cattle with the 
local breed of the Pustertal Valley and its side valleys, 
predominantly white in colour. Chestnut to light-brown areas on the 
flanks, turning into small spots towards the edge. Cows weigh between 
500 and 600 kg, bulls between 800 and 900 kg. Cross-bred 
with the Pinzgauer Cattle in the 19%%sup th/%  century. No longer 
selected for breeding (in 1927 excluded from the selective breeding 
association by the agricultural inspectorate), the Pustertaler 
Schecken have gradually been replaced by other breeds; today only 
approximately 60 cows left.

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Jochberger Hummeln: developed from the Pinzgauer Cattle; raised near 
Kitzbuehel from 1834; very popular in the 19%%sup th/%  century; today 
only 15 head left. Similar to the Pinzgauer Cattle in appearance, but 
hornless and of smaller size.

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Tyrolean Grey Cattle: ancient breed native to North and South Tyrol, 
also bred in the Allgaeu Region (Germany). Decreasing in number, but 
was still widespread in the Eastern Alps at the end of the 19th 
century. Replaced by the Braunvieh Cattle; contributed a lot to the 
improvement of cattle breeds in South-Eastern Europe. Silver to 
iron-grey, sometimes brownish-grey with certain lighter and darker 
spots. Bulls are dark with a light-coloured saddle-spot. Dual-purpose 
cattle with excellent milk yield. Cows weigh between 500 and 
600 kg, bulls between 900 and 1,000 kg.

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Tux Cattle: black or reddish-brown cattle raised in the Zillertal 
Valley, with white marks near the pelvis and root of tail, escutcheon, 
udder, end of tail and underchest; sometimes white on the forearms and 
lower legs. Cows weigh between 550 and 600 kg, bulls between 800 
and 900 kg. Originally kept in large parts of Italy and Tyrol, 
this breed is said to have originated from the Swiss Eringerrind 
Cattle; was driven back to the Zillertal Valley as early as the 
19%%sup th/%  century. The cattle breed nearly disappeared as a result 
of systematic TB-control and there are only a few head left. The breed 
was selected for its aggressiveness, which resulted in lower milk 
production; today the breed is well-known for its fast rate of weight 
gain.

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Schwarzbunte (Holstein Friesian): only bred in the Eferding Basin 
(Upper Austria) until 1965, by cross-breeding with American Holstein 
Friesian cattle kept all over Austria today as the breed with the best 
milk performance. Sharply defined black and white spotted markings, 
dark mucous membranes, head with white marks. Cows weigh about 600-700 
kg, bulls 1,000-1,200 kg. With about 6,700 kg the highest milk-yield 
of Austrian cattle.

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For the numerous breed threatened by extinction a gene maintenance 
program has been set up: Waldviertler Blohdvieh, Kaerntner Blondvieh, 
Murboden Cattle, Ennstaler Bergschecken, Tuxer Cattle, Original 
Braunvieh, and others.


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