Winter

As soon as the mountains are covered with snow and the landscapes are transformed into sparkling ice worlds, our mountain farmers also find some peace and quiet. With frost, the harvest season ends, which is why work is mainly required in and around the own farm in winter. The frozen soil also allows easier access to the forest with heavy machinery, which is why the Mayr family is now doing their forestry work. The masons prepare the animals for keeping them in winter, the fur is sheared and claw care measures are carried out. For the Schreyer family, it is clear whether the three deciduous trees that they have registered for the valuable wood auction also meet the quality requirements and have paid off the effort. The Seehuber family also offers pine branches, so-called daxes, for sale as a sideline in winter, while Sepp Jackl harnesses his horses for nostalgic carriage rides through the wintry landscape. Come on a journey through the wintry world of mountain farmers and see how they organise this quiet but special season.

Feeding from storage

When nature retires and the cows have moved to the protective barn for the cold season, the daily work routine for mountain farmers also changes. Most of the work now takes place around the house and yard. With the first snow at the latest, the grazing season also ends and the switch to winter feeding takes place. There is no need for daily checks and routines, such as checking fences and water supply or driving animals onto pastures. To do this, mountain farmers are now drawing on the food reserves that they have built up over the year. Due to economic efficiency and quality, every effort is made with our own feed resources over the winter. As a rule, the farm's own stocks of hay and silage are sufficient until next spring.

Daxen for the Christmas season

As soon as Christmas is around the corner, it's time for daxing. Daxen is popularly known as the branches of conifers, which are often used as Advent decorations or to protect against frost in the garden. Especially during the Christmas season, they are a popular asset and a welcome source of additional income for our mountain farmers. While woodworking in winter, the coveted bundles of twigs are also cut and prepared for sale on the market. The winter months are often preferred for complex work in the forest, because the frozen soil also allows heavier machinery to enter the forest without causing lasting damage. For our mountain farmers, their own forest is an extremely valuable asset that is passed on from generation to generation. It is only through careful care and management that its value can be preserved and secured for future generations.

Hygiene measures for animal health

A well-groomed coat and healthy claws are important for the well-being and health of animals. For our mountain farmers Andrea and Michael Maurer, shearing the cows is also part of the hygiene measures. Among other things, this is intended to prevent parasites from settling in the coat. Since cows develop thicker winter coats in late autumn due to falling temperatures, shearing also ensures that the animals in the barn do not sweat excessively and suffer respiratory diseases as a result of any drafts. Regular brushing is also part of keeping the cows clean and also serves as a soothing massage. For hoof care, which, among other things, serves to prevent misalignments, the animals are led individually from the barn to the hoof care stand. In order to minimize stress for the animals despite an unusual situation, mountain farmer Michael Maurer ties a cloth over their eyes to get to the equipment. They then carefully follow his familiar voice. Once in the claw position, Michael Maurer carefully cuts and grinds the claws and then brings his cows back into the barn.

Nostalgic carriage rides

The clatter of hooves and the clink of the harnesses of a horse-drawn carriage in a wintry landscape has something calming and decelerating for us humans. Horse-drawn vehicles have been with us for centuries. In rural areas, horses are still used to work in the forest. For Sepp Jackl, his three heavy horses and carriage rides are not only an additional income to the farm, but above all a passion. For 40 years, Sepp has been offering nostalgic carriage rides for birthdays, weddings or corporate events. Guests enjoy this relaxed mode of transportation through the picturesque countryside. In the past, Sepp even went to the children in a horse-drawn sleigh as Santa Claus. The cold-blooded animals clearly enjoy the shower and body care. In doing so, they radiate a calm that shows close mutual familiarity with their owner. Even when the animals are harnessed and routinely pull the wagon, coachmen and horses look like a well-rehearsed team.

Valuable trees for a special auction

Precious woods such as maple or ash are true treasures of nature — a single tree can fetch several thousand euros at a valuable wood auction, the so-called submission. Only every ten to 20 years does the Schreyer family have the opportunity to provide suitable hardwood trees for such an auction. When the time is right for cases, utmost care must be taken. The valuable tree is cut as low as possible to ensure the maximum length and then carefully brought to the ground. But as soon as the precious item has been found, the really exciting part only begins. It is now clear whether the wood actually meets the high requirements for the auction and can be auctioned off with the other precious woods or not. With Klaus Schreyer Sr. and his son Klaus Jr., for example, one of the selected trees proved to be rotten and cracked on the inside — unsuitable for the sale of valuable wood and could only be used as firewood. Despite this risk, precious wood is a valuable source of income, in particular due to the growing appreciation in society for high-quality, regional resources.

Valuable trees for a special auction

Precious woods such as maple or ash are true treasures of nature — a single tree can fetch several thousand euros at a valuable wood auction, the so-called submission. Only every ten to 20 years does the Schreyer family have the opportunity to provide suitable hardwood trees for such an auction. When the time is right for cases, utmost care must be taken. The valuable tree is cut as low as possible to ensure the maximum length and then carefully brought to the ground. But as soon as the precious item has been found, the really exciting part only begins. It is now clear whether the wood actually meets the high requirements for the auction and can be auctioned off with the other precious woods or not. With Klaus Schreyer Sr. and his son Klaus Jr., for example, one of the selected trees proved to be rotten and cracked on the inside — unsuitable for the sale of valuable wood and could only be used as firewood. Despite this risk, precious wood is a valuable source of income, in particular due to the growing appreciation in society for high-quality, regional resources.

Valuable trees for a special auction

Precious woods such as maple or ash are true treasures of nature — a single tree can fetch several thousand euros at a valuable wood auction, the so-called submission. Only every ten to 20 years does the Schreyer family have the opportunity to provide suitable hardwood trees for such an auction. When the time is right for cases, utmost care must be taken. The valuable tree is cut as low as possible to ensure the maximum length and then carefully brought to the ground. But as soon as the precious item has been found, the really exciting part only begins. It is now clear whether the wood actually meets the high requirements for the auction and can be auctioned off with the other precious woods or not. With Klaus Schreyer Sr. and his son Klaus Jr., for example, one of the selected trees proved to be rotten and cracked on the inside — unsuitable for the sale of valuable wood and could only be used as firewood. Despite this risk, precious wood is a valuable source of income, in particular due to the growing appreciation in society for high-quality, regional resources.
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