The Pustertaler Sprinzen cattle are a rare breed of cattle native to the Puster Valley in south and east of Tyrol. The Puster Valley is in the autonomous province of Bolzano, now in north-eastern Italy.
The breed is also called Pustertaler or Pustertaler Schecken. According to the genetic research carried out in 2001, the Barà breed of the province of Turin to be closely similar to the Pustertaler.
And since 2002 the two populations have been treated and registered as a single breed.
The Pustertaler Sprinzen cattle breed is one of the sixteen minor Italian cattle breeds of limited diffusion recognized and protected by the Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali, the Italian ministry of agriculture.
The breed originated from an area that includes the Pustertal and it’s tributary valleys, and the eastern parts of the Eisacktal or Isarco valley. The breed was probably developed by crossing Swiss Herens (Eringer) with local cattle breeds.
Currently the breed is pretty rare today and mainly reared in Austria, Germany, Italy and South Africa.
Pustertaler Sprinzen Cattle Characteristics
Pustertaler Sprinzen cattle are medium sized animals. They are finched and color-sided. They are generally white with chestnut-brown to light brown or black plaques on the flanks that dissolve into small spots at the margins.
Both bulls and cows usually have short spreading or forward pointing horns. The muzzle, the ears and the area around the eyes are colored.
The cows on average weight about 500-650 kg. And average body weight of the bulls is about 800-900 kg. Photo and info from Wikipedia.
Uses
The Pustertaler Sprinzen cattle are dual-purpose animals. They are suitable for both milk and meat production. But currently, they are mainly used for meat production.
Special Notes
Pustertaler Sprinzen cattle are robust and tough animals. They are known for their easy calving and longevity. As compared to other breeds, the Pustertaler Sprinzen calves tend to be lively, with a high daily weight increase when fed on basic rations.
Milk production of the cows increases with each lactation period. The breed is also noted for it’s very good quality meat. Today the breed is considered as a rare breed.
And there are fewer than 500 pure Pustertaler Sprinzen cattle remaining in the world. And most of the populations are in the South Tyrol and Austria. Review full breed profile of this breed in the following chart.
| Breed Name | Pustertaler Sprinzen |
| Other Name | Pustertaler or Pustertaler Schecken |
| Breed Purpose | Milk, meat |
| Special Notes | Robust, tough |
| Breed Size | Medium |
| Bulls | About 800-900 kg |
| Cows | About 500-650 kg |
| Climate Tolerance | All Climates |
| Coat Color | White with red or black pied markings on the flanks |
| Horned | Yes |
| Milk Yield | Good |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Country/Place of Origin | Italy |
