A flock of brown sheep is my kingdom
For thousands of years, alpine pastures have shaped the landscape of the Tyrolean mountains in the Alps. However, the ‘alpine pasture’ habitat as we know it today is not, as many might think, a pristine natural landscape, but rather the result of years of alpine farming.
Anyone who has ever climbed the Glungezer summit in summer is very likely to have already come across them – the brown Tyrolean mountain sheep. These are far less well-known than their white counterparts, but by no means less significant. Perfectly adapted to high-altitude conditions, the animals like to linger in rocky terrain near the summit. So it’s no surprise that you’ll also come across them when you reach the summit cross on the Glungezers.
Max Stern, tenant of the Schafalm on the Glungezer, is chairman of the “Tyrolean Brown and Black Mountain Sheep Breeders’ Association” and has plenty to say about this ancient breed and alpine farming in Tyrol.
Max, I’ve heard that the brown and black mountain sheep almost went extinct once. Is that true?
Max Stern: Yes, that’s true. Alongside the Steinschaf and the white mountain sheep, the coloured mountain sheep are among the oldest and most traditional sheep breeds in Tyrol. Over the years, however, the coloured mountain sheep fell into obscurity, until by the mid-20th century it was critically endangered. Since 1992, however, the brown and black mountain sheep have once again been specifically bred in Tyrol and have thus been successfully saved from extinction.
That’s good to hear! You’re the proud owner of a flock of brown sheep. How many sheep do you have on your farm?
About 300 – sometimes more, sometimes fewer.
So they spend the winter in the barn and in summer they take over the summit of the Glungezer?
Exactly (laughs). At the start of May, the first animals are driven up and graze on the eastern slopes of the mountain throughout the summer.
Do you also feed the animals on the mountain pasture in summer?
No, the sheep roam completely freely. Apart from the salt, which is usually provided on mountain pastures, they are entirely left to their own devices.
So you see them once in the spring and then not again until the autumn?
No, they’re not quite that isolated (smiles). I pop round twice a week to check that everything’s alright. My daughter Antonia often comes along too; she shares my passion – as does the whole Stern family – for the brown mountain sheep and for alpine farming.
Speaking of alpine farming: many people have no idea just how important managed and well-maintained alpine pastures are for our country. Can you shed some light on this?
For farm animals in particular, the alpine pastures provide a species-appropriate and vital space for rest and recuperation. This helps to conserve the scarce grazing land in the valley, ensuring it remains available for the fodder production needed for the winter. Furthermore, thanks to the abundance of alpine herbs they graze on and the ample exercise they get, animals that spend time on the alpine pastures (note: those living on the alp) are considered significantly more robust, healthier and better balanced than animals kept solely in stables.
But tourism benefits from it too…
Exactly. Alpine livestock graze and roam the alpine pastures throughout the summer, ensuring that the cultural landscape of the alpine pastures is preserved. Otherwise, in many places, it would no longer be possible to have ski runs in winter, as the land would become overgrown. It also reduces the risk of soil erosion, such as mudslides or avalanches.
… and an alpine pasture like this is a sight to behold too!
Yes, the cultural landscape shaped by farming plays a valuable role in the Alpine region’s popularity with tourists today. Alpine pastures are highly valued as places of relaxation by both visitors and locals.
Are there any other advantages?
Of course there are – and a very significant one at that, at least for connoisseurs like me (laughs). Products from the alpine pastures – be it homemade alpine butter, flavourful meat from alpine pigs or mountain cheese straight from the dairy – taste far better than conventional or even industrially produced goods and are of the highest quality of all. When it comes to nutrients, too, a product from the alpine pasture is unbeatable.
As a general rule, when on an alpine pasture … you should walk on the marked paths.… keep a distance of at least 20 metres from grazing livestock.… Under no circumstances should you stroke or feed grazing animals… keep quiet and avoid making noise when near animals… do not cross grazing areas or herds of animals… always keep dogs on a lead… close any gates you pass through… take your rubbish home with you.