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 18th century was the Mürztaler cattle, which penetrated into the Mur valley and merged there with old Bergschecken and Blondvieh and became the Murbodner.
19th 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 19th, early 20th 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