Farmer carries premature calf from mountain pasture to valley
Monday 14th September 2026 on 10:30 in
Bavaria
A farmer carried a prematurely born calf for about 40 minutes from steep terrain on a mountain pasture to the valley, BR reported. The 35-kilogram calf was unable to stand on its own after being born earlier than expected.
Andreas Rainer, a farmer from Ehrl, had gone to the Feichtenalm mountain pasture in the border area between the Chiemgau region and Tyrol to bring his pregnant cows back to the valley. The cows were not expected to give birth for several weeks.
But shortly before Rainer arrived, one cow gave birth in steep terrain. Because the calf could not stand and the remote location was far from any road, Rainer carried it on his shoulders up to a plateau. The mother followed him.
Rainer said he was relieved to have found the two in time. At such a steep spot, the calf could quickly have lost its footing and rolled down the mountain. It was the cow’s first calf, and Rainer believed she may have lacked the experience to choose a safer place to give birth.
Rainer, his father and an acquaintance then drove the cows down to the valley, taking turns carrying the newborn calf. Rainer said the calf behaved well and survived the journey without problems.
Although the farmers take their animals to the mountain pasture every year, Rainer said such an incident was rare. His father remembered the last time he had to carry a prematurely born calf down the mountain was about 20 years ago.
Farmers must check on their cows in the mountains at least every other day. They may have to deal with severe weather or animals escaping. This year, drought and a lack of water made conditions more challenging, Rainer said.
In the coming weeks, cattle will be brought down from mountain pastures in many Alpine communities. In Allgäu, the tradition is known as Viehscheid, while in Upper Bavaria it is called Almabtrieb. Some communities mark it with festivals, and the cattle are sometimes decorated for the occasion. The calf is expected to be able to make the journey back to the mountain pasture on its own next spring.