Murnau-Werdenfels

Murnau-Werdenfels cattle, called Murnau-Werdenfelser in German, are a rare breed from Upper Bavaria around Murnau, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and the Werdenfelser Land. They developed as triple-purpose cattle for milk, meat, and draft in the foothills of the Alps. Animals are usually yellow to reddish brown with dark pigmentation on the muzzle, claws, and sometimes along the topline. A major breed strength is hoof durability on wet meadows, moorland, and uneven mountain pasture where heavier lowland cattle may struggle.

Modern herds are usually small and tied to conservation breeding, farmstead production, or landscape grazing. Murnau-Werdenfels cattle are not expected to match specialized Holsteins for milk or continental beef breeds for growth, but they can be efficient on forage and well suited to traditional Bavarian management. Keepers still need ordinary cattle facilities, winter feed, mineral support, and regular health checks, especially on steep or wet ground. Since the population is limited, responsible breeding means avoiding close inbreeding and selecting animals that retain strong feet, fertility, and calm utility.

Colors: Belted, Black, Black and White, Blaze Faced, Blue Roan, Brindle, Brockle Faced, Brown, Brown and White, Dun, Gray, Grey, Highbelt, Highpark, Lineback, Mottled, Pied, Red, Red and White, Red Roan, Riggit, Roan, Silver, Solid Black, Solid Red, Solid White, Speckled, Spotted, White, White Faced, Yellow