In the spring of 2018, the city of Burghausen launched a new environmental project: the grazing of an area by cattle. The city chose the area behind the Raitenhaslach monastery on the banks of the Salzach for this purpose. Since then, Murnau-Werdenfelser cattle and water buffalo have been at home here in summer. The extensive natural grazing of the approximately 6,5 hectare site promotes plant diversity and species richness.
A special attraction for visitors is the suckler cow husbandry. In Germany, suckler cows and their calves are rarely seen together in the pasture. This form of keeping is considered a special form in this country.
Contact
Environment Agency
T. +49 8677 887-308
environmental office@burghausen.de
Town square
Room E
Directions/route planner
Public visitor times:
Monday to Wednesday
08: 00 clock to 12: 00 clock
14: 00 clock to 16: 30 clock
Thursday
08: 00 clock to 12: 00 clock
14: 00 clock to 17: 00 clock
Friday
08: 00 clock to 12: 00 clock
Objective
Cattle grazing in Raitenhaslach pursues the goal of ecologically upgrading the used compensation area on the Gries. It replaces regular mowing and the resulting soil compaction.
Extensive grazing by the cattle and the resulting browsing and roaming creates a habitat for rare animal and plant species. The wallows of the water buffalo are suitable retreats for amphibians such as the yellow-bellied toad.
Old grass fringes, which the cattle leave behind, offer insects and birds a habitat that has become rare.
At the same time, the Burghauser environmental project is also pursuing the goal of preserving the last native breed of cattle in Bavaria and thus the genetic diversity. The Murnau-Werdenfels cattle used to be used as a triple-purpose animal, serving as a working animal and providing milk and meat. With the concentration on high-performance cattle, the cattle breed lost its attractiveness.
The Murnau-Werdenfels cattle and the water buffalo that graze on the Raitenhaslach site are provided by a Mühldorf farmer. He takes care of the cattle. The animals spend the winter months in his barn.
The graduates of the voluntary ecological year (FÖJ) from the city of Burghausen support the farmer in looking after the cattle.
Anyone who would like to find out more about cattle grazing in Raitenhaslach or the animals themselves can find out more on the Mühldorf farmer's website. Readers can also find information about the farm shop and meat sales here.
DER REISERER – pasture cattle and water buffalo (der-reiserer.de)
Other environmental projects
