Farmer carries premature calf down mountain to safety

A farmer carried a premature 35-kilogram calf on his shoulders for about 40 minutes after it was born in steep, remote terrain at the Feichtenalm mountain pasture, BR reported.

Andreas Reiner, a farmer from Ehrl, had gone to bring his pregnant cows down from the pasture in the border region between the Chiemgau and Tyrol. The cows were not expected to give birth for several weeks, but one had already delivered shortly before he arrived.

The newborn bull calf could not yet stand, and the birth site was far from any road. Reiner carried it to a nearby plateau while its mother followed. He said the calf could otherwise have lost its footing and rolled down the mountain.

The cow was giving birth for the first time. Reiner believes she may have lacked the experience to choose a safer location.

Reiner, his father and an acquaintance then drove the cows down to the valley, taking turns carrying the calf. They said it remained calm and survived the journey well.

Reiner said such incidents were rare, despite the family bringing its animals to the mountain pasture every year. His father remembers the previous occasion about 20 years ago when he had to carry a premature calf down from the mountain.

Mountain farmers must check on their cows at least every other day. This year, drought and a lack of water made the work more difficult, Reiner said.

In the coming weeks, cattle will be brought down from mountain pastures across the Alpine region. The tradition is known as Viehscheid in the Allgäu and Almabtrieb in Upper Bavaria. Some communities mark it with festivals, and the cattle are sometimes decorated for the occasion.

The animals will remain in the valley until next spring, when they can return to the mountain pastures. By then, Reiner’s young bull will likely be able to make the journey on its own.