Vorderwald Cattle are a dual purpose cattle breed adapted,
like the related Hinterwald cattle breed, to the rough mountain conditions of the Black Forest

Black Forest

The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....

 in Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

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Characteristics

They are reputed to be longlived with strong legs and feet allowing them to graze on the mountains. The head and legs are generally white and the body has red, brown or even black patches or spots. They have forward curving horns. Cows are typically 135 cm tall at the withers and weigh about 600 kg. Bulls are typically 150 cm tall at the withers and weigh about 1,050 kg.

History

The so called "Wald Cattle" were mentioned for the first time in 1544. They were already differentiated between a bigger breed, today's Vorderwald cattle, and a smaller breed, today's Hinterwald cattle. A herdbook was established in 1896. After 1960 there was some crossbreeding with Ayrshire cattle

Ayrshire cattle

The Ayrshire cattle is a breed of dairy cattle originated from Ayrshire in Scotland. The average mature Ayrshire cow weighs 1,000-1,300 pounds . Ayrshires have red markings. The red can be an orange to a dark brown, with or without coloured legs. They are known for low somatic cell counts,...

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