The Hinterwald () is an old local breed of

cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult mal ...

from the

Black Forest The Black Forest (german: Schwarzwald ) is a large forested mountain range in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany, bounded by the Rhine Valley to the west and south and close to the borders with France and Switzerland. It is t ...

(

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

). There are breed associations in Germany and one in Switzerland.

Etymology

The Hinterwälder (literally "from the backwoods") adopted its name about 150 years ago, when they were distinguished from their somewhat larger sister breed, the Vorderwälder (literally "from the frontwoods"). The scientific name is ''Bos primigenius f. taurus''.

Characteristics

The cattle is small. Hinterwald cows are tall and weigh , while Hinterwald bulls are tall and weigh , making them the smallest breed of cattle still extant in

Central Europe Central Europe is an area of Europe between Western Europe and Eastern Europe, based on a common historical, social and cultural identity. The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) between Catholicism and Protestantism significantly shaped the area' ...

. The head is mostly white, the remainder of the coat being pied light yellow to dark red-brown. Having been bred to cope with extreme conditions, such as cold winters, steep pastures and a frugal diet, they are well adapted to the

Alpine climate Alpine climate is the typical weather (climate) for elevations above the tree line, where trees fail to grow due to cold. This climate is also referred to as a mountain climate or highland climate. Definition There are multiple definitions of ...

. They are used for both

beef Beef is the culinary name for meat from cattle (''Bos taurus''). In prehistoric times, humankind hunted aurochs and later domesticated them. Since that time, numerous breeds of cattle have been bred specifically for the quality or quantity ...

and

milk Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digestion, digest solid food. Immune factors and immune ...

production and are noted for their thriftiness, longevity and lack of calving difficulties. These qualities have led to a significant rise in the number of Hinterwald cows in the

Swiss Alps The Alpine region of Switzerland, conventionally referred to as the Swiss Alps (german: Schweizer Alpen, french: Alpes suisses, it, Alpi svizzere, rm, Alps svizras), represents a major natural feature of the country and is, along with the Swiss ...

since the introduction of a breeding programme initiated by ''

ProSpecieRara ProSpecieRara, the "Schweizerische Stiftung für die kulturhistorische und genetische Vielfalt von Pflanzen und Tieren" ("Swiss foundation for the cultural and genetic diversity of plants and animals"), is a non-profit charitable organization de ...

'', a

non-profit organisation A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

dedicated to the preservation of endangered domestic species. However, the breed is still endangered. The government of

Baden-Württemberg Baden-Württemberg (; ), commonly shortened to BW or BaWü, is a German state () in Southwest Germany, east of the Rhine, which forms the southern part of Germany's western border with France. With more than 11.07 million inhabitants across a ...

pays husbandry bonuses to conserve it. The breed was "Domestic Animal of the Year" (''Haustier des Jahres'') in Germany in 1992.

Photo gallery

File:Hinterwald Cattle Hinterzarten.jpg, Hinterwald heifer at

Hinterzarten Hinterzarten is a resort village in the Black Forest (German: ''Schwarzwald''), located in the southwest of the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Although Hinterzarten is mostly famous for its ski jumping, it has many other tourist attractions. ...

File:Hinterwälderkuh - liegend.jpg, Hinterwald cow lying down File:Cow suckling.jpg, Hinterwald cow suckling a calf File:Hinterwälder Cow.jpg, Hinterwald cow and calf at

Ballenberg Ballenberg is an open-air museum in Switzerland that displays traditional buildings and architecture from all over the country. Located near Brienz in the municipality of Hofstetten bei Brienz, Canton of Bern, Ballenberg has over 100 original buil ...

, Switzerland

References

External links

"Hinterwälder Rind" cattle profile by ProSpecieRara
( NPO from )
"Hinterwälder" cattle profile by ASR
(breeding association from Southern )

Gefährdete Nutztiere - Informationen der Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen e.V.

Photos of the Hinterwald cattle
{{Cattle breeds of Germany Black Forest Cattle breeds originating in Germany Animal breeds on the GEH Red List

Etymology

Characteristics

Photo gallery

See also

References

External links