Murbodner

The Murbodner cattle are a solid light, medium-framed beef breed. The basic colour is blond to fox-red and “thaler” markings occur frequently. The muzzle is black with a bright blaze, also known as the “Herzl”. The area around the muzzle and the eyes and the lower part of the legs are of a lighter colour. The horn and tail tips are dark grey to black. The hoofs are darkly pigmented, very hard and resistant. Bulls are usually darker and the neck area is black.

Moser

Direction of use

The Murbodner are a dual-purpose beef breed. Their sustainable use can be explained by their suitability for suckling. They have a robust nature, a good disposition and a strong fundament which all allow for trouble-free extensive farming on pastures and alpine pastures. A long life and a high resistance are important characteristics for suckling cows. The special quality of the meat, which features a fine texture, tenderness and appealing marbling, is valued as a “speciality” in upmarket beef cuisine. Pure-bred Murbodner enjoy great demand because they are ideal for pasture fattening. They are also used for special branded meat programs like fattening ox production (Murbodner Qualitätsochse, Fa. Tann) and pasture oxes (Almo).

Statistics & Distribution

Austria: 14,400 animals
Breed proportion in Austria: 0.73%

This breed is now widespread in Austria with a focus on the provinces of Styria, Lower and Upper Austria.

Figures

Ø Milk performance: 4,055 kg – 3.95% F – 3.34% P (305 days)

Ø Beef performance:

	Daily weight gain (g)
	200 days	365 days
M	1170.0	1049.9
F	1068.5	902.9

Control farms (Herds): 538

Height (cm, Ø): 135

Weight (kg, Ø): 600

Animals in control farms: 9,538

Registered cows: 4,475

Origin: Styria (A)

History

Area of origin: Judenburg- Knittelfelder basin in the Mur valley

Original type: The Murbodner cattle stem from the Celtic- Ilyrian cattle and the grey Slovenian cattle. The breeding stock in the 18^th century was the Mürztaler cattle, which penetrated into the Mur valley and merged there with old Bergschecken and Blondvieh and became the Murbodner.

19^th century: Murbodner replaced the Mürztaler cattle and were spread widely in the Eastern Alps and the Alpine foothills.

1869: Recognition as fourth Styrian race after the Pinzgauer, Bergschecken and Mürztaler, first Herd Book

1898: Establishment of Murbodner- Mürztaler breeding cooperatives to improve animal breeding

Late 19^th, early 20^th century: Establishment of a breeding goal on the occasion of the association`s establishment

1927: Introduction of a Herd Book

1934: Union of all Murbodner associations from Styria, Lower and Upper Austria to form one working group of the Murbodner Cattle breeders in Austria with its office in Bruck an der Mur

After 1954: Rapid downwards development in the Murbodner race because oxen were no longer needed to work the land and the milk performance could not keep up with the milk performance of the Simmental breed

End 1960: Only 100 pure-bred animals

1950s and 1960s: Outbreak of tuberculosis and brucellosis led almost to the point of extinction

1979: The Gelbvieh association began with the sheduled maintenance of the Murbodner

1982: Support from the ÖNGENE in gene conservation

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25.04.2014