Dairy farmers produce more milk worldwide.
According to a FAO forecast, global milk production is expected to increase by 1.0% in the year 2025. The biggest growth is expected in Asia, as reported by the ZMB.
The Tux-Zillertal cattle breed was saved from extinction thanks to a few idealists. Breeders aim to preserve the Tyrolean ancient breed with its rich history for the next generation.
Last weekend, the Tux-Zillertaler Gauder festival show was supposed to take place with the participation of the Tux-Zillertaler in the parade in Zell am Ziller. The Gauder festival, with 30,000 visitors, is the largest spring festival in the Alpine region. Unfortunately, due to the current epidemic situation, it had to be postponed to 2026.
Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the Tux-Zillertaler breeders. Thanks to a few idealists, this old Tyrolean cultural heritage was saved from extinction. The Tyrolean newspaper reported in a large article that the last Tuxer cow was displayed stuffed at the House of Nature in Salzburg. Thankfully, this was a mistake, as Chairman Alois Huber points out: "Today, we are proud and grateful that this old Tyrolean breed could be preserved."
Cow fights, a unique aspect of the Tux-Zillertaler breed, were held traditionally at the Gauder festival in Zell am Ziller until the 1950s.
The breed has a strong connection with the Gauder festival, but cow fights are no longer held. "Nevertheless, it is important for us to preserve the Tyrolean ancient breed of Tux-Zillertaler with its rich history for the next generation," says breeding manager Christian Moser from Rinderzucht Tyrol. As a Tyrolean ancient breed, the Tux-Zillertaler breed has a significant history with cow fights, cattle drives to Russia, and the strong emotional attachment of Tuxer and Zillertal farmers to the breed.
An application for inclusion in the UNESCO list of "Intangible Cultural Heritage" has been submitted, with Moser working hard on the submission.
By the way, Tuxers are black or dark chestnut, while Zillertalers are red.
This lithograph from 1913 shows Franz Gänsluckner "Obergans" from Fügenberg with his champion cow named "Hugo." She was given the male name "Hugo" due to her extraordinary fighting strength. The cost of creating the image allegedly exceeded the value of a cow.