Eleven Scottish Highland cattle die after fleeing pasture in Tyrol

The 38-year-old owner wanted to transport the eleven cattle to an alpine pasture in the morning. "Am Samstagvormittag wollte ein 38-jähriger Bauer in Brandenberg (Bezirk Kufstein) seine elf Schottischen Hochlandrinder mit einem Traktor samt Anhänger auf die Alm bringen," police reported. Around 10:00 a.m., the animals were still on the fenced pasture of the property. The farmer and several helpers immediately set out to search for the escaped animals. "Sie durchbrachen kurzerhand den Zaun und verschwanden," the investigators described the moment of the escape.

Why the animals suddenly panicked is currently still unclear. After the power supply to the pasture fence was switched off, the cattle panicked for reasons that have not yet been determined and broke through the enclosure. A search lasting several hours initially proved unsuccessful. Only after about four hours did the searchers discover that the entire herd had escaped over the Aschauerhörndl. "Die Tiere befanden sich gegen 10:00 Uhr noch auf der umzäunten Weide des Anwesens," police explained. The search proved difficult in the rough terrain.

Course of the escape and search

It eventually became known that the cattle had fled over the Aschauerhörndl toward the Steinberger Ache. "Die restlichen neun Tiere stürzten im Bereich einer steilen, felsdurchsetzten Rinne in Richtung Steinberger Ache ab und verendeten dort," police said. Nine of the animals fell in a steep, rock-strewn gully and perished there. Two additional animals were found dead in the area of a forest road. "und zwei in der Nähe eines Forstwegs abgestürzt und verendet waren," the police report stated.

The elaborate recovery of the carcasses was set in motion after they were found. The recovery proved logistically challenging given the steep and rock-strewn terrain. Emergency personnel and helpers had to transport the dead animals from the gully toward the Steinberger Ache as well as from the forest road. The police provided information on the status of the recovery operations.

The damage amounts to a five-figure sum, police said. The financial damage for the farmer is estimated at a sum in the lower five-figure euro range. Scottish Highland cattle are among the more expensive breeds of cattle kept in alpine farming. The loss of the entire herd weighs accordingly heavily for the operation.

Recovery of the carcasses in difficult terrain

The incident occurred on Saturday in Aschau (Schwaz district), as other sources reported. Some media located the events in Aschau in the Schwaz district, others in Brandenberg in the Kufstein district. The exact geographical circumstances of the pasture and the area of the fall near the Aschauerhörndl are still being investigated. Eleven animals perished.

Police are continuing their investigations into the cause of the panic. Why the animals reacted at the moment the power to the pasture fence was switched off is the subject of the ongoing investigations. It is conceivable that the cattle reacted to a noise, a movement, or another as-yet-unidentified cause, investigators explained. The exact duration of the power interruption is also being examined.

Scottish Highland cattle are considered robust and rather calm animals. However, they are herd animals and can react suddenly to stress or unfamiliar stimuli. In Tyrol's alpine farming, they are popular because of their resilience and their dense coat. The loss of an entire herd within a few minutes is a severe blow for a farming operation.

Amount of the economic damage

The farmer and his helpers had searched for the animals for several hours before the extent of the tragedy became known. "Der Bauer und mehrere Helfer suchten mehrere Stunden nach den Rindern," police reported. The farmer faced the task on Saturday midday of recovering an entire herd in rough terrain. The search ended with the sad certainty that none of the animals had survived.

Given the rock-strewn terrain, the helpers had to plan the recovery carefully. The steep gully toward the Steinberger Ache did not allow a simple vehicle-based recovery. The carcasses had to be retrieved from the mountain terrain using elaborate equipment and great effort. The authorities expressly acknowledged the efforts of the helpers.

For the affected farmer, the loss of the herd means a severe setback. In addition to the sentimental loss of the animals, with some of which he had worked for years, the economic damage is now also at issue. The question of insurance and possible compensation will be examined in the coming days, according to police sources.

Investigations into the cause of the panic

The municipality of Brandenberg and the area around the Aschauerhörndl are used for agriculture. The incident has triggered dismay in the small community. Residents and neighboring farmers offered their help to the affected farmer. Solidarity among the mountain farmers in the region is strong, according to those close to the matter.

Elf Hochlandrinder bei Absturz verendet – this is how the authorities summarized the incident. Eleven animals lost their lives, as the statistics show. The investigations are ongoing, and police are asking any possible witnesses who made observations in connection with the incident to come forward.

später im steilen Gelände abgestürzt – this finding is at the center of the police assessment. The animals did not meet their death on the pasture, but only in the mountain terrain around the Aschauerhörndl. The path there, over the ridge area and into the rock-strewn gully, was apparently not passable for the Highland cattle.