Hinterwald (German: Hinterwälder Rind) is an old local breed of cattle from the Black Forest (Germany). The Hinterwalder (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").
Hinterwald cattle are small. Their cows are 115 to 125 centimeters (45 to 49 in) tall and weigh 350 to 450 kilograms (770 to 990 lb), while Hinterwald bulls are 130 to 135 centimeters (51 to 53 in) tall and weigh 700 to 800 kilograms (1,500 to 1,800 lb), making them the smallest breed of cattle still extant in Central Europe. Their heads are 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.
They are used for both beef and milk 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 since the introduction of a breeding programme initiated by ProSpecieRara, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of endangered domestic species. However, the breed is still endangered.
Content and photo source: Wikipedia.org.
About Hinterwald Cattle
