Hinterwald

The Hinterwald (Hinterwälder Rind) is an old local breed of cattle from the Black Forest (Germany). There are breed associations in Germany and one in Switzerland.

Etymology
The Hinterwälder (literally "from the backwoods") adopted its name about 150 years ago, when they were distinguished from their somewhat larger sister breed, the Vorderwälder (literally "from the frontwoods").

The scientific name is Bos primigenius f. taurus.

Characteristics
The cattle is small. Hinterwald cows are 115 to 125 cm tall and weigh 350 to 450 kg, while Hinterwald bulls are 130 to 135 cm tall and weigh 700 to 800 kg, making them the smallest breed of cattle still extant in Central Europe. The head is mostly white, the remainder of the coat being pied light yellow to dark red-brown. Having been bred to cope with extreme conditions, such as cold winters, steep pastures and a frugal diet, they are well adapted to the Alpine climate. They are used for both beef and milk production and are noted for their thriftiness, longevity and lack of calving difficulties.

These qualities have led to a significant rise in the number of Hinterwald cows in the Swiss Alps since the introduction of a breeding programme initiated by ProSpecieRara, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation of endangered domestic species. However, the breed is still endangered. The government of Baden-Württemberg pays husbandry bonuses to conserve it.

The breed was "Domestic Animal of the Year" (Haustier des Jahres) in Germany in 1992.