First cattle drive

The cattle from the Hoad out and about in the national park

The cattle are back on the pasture in Illmitz.(Bild: Charlotte Titz)

Spring is here - May 1st is the time when the cattle are allowed out to graze again. This was also the case in Illmitz with cattle farmer Mario Fleischhacker. His cows were already very excited. 

With cheerful mooing and an impatient stamping of their hooves, the organic cattle from Mario Fleischhacker's farm were eagerly awaiting their big day: the release from their winter quarters into the vast expanses of the Neusiedler See - Seewinkel National Park. A dense crowd in front of the "gate to freedom" and a mixture of excitement and equanimity characterized the scene before the long-awaited moment.

Some of the calves have already been born. There will be a few more in the pasture.(Bild: Charlotte Titz)

Then the time had finally come: the gate opened and the herd of cattle started to move. A short time later, the herd animals have settled back into their natural environment without any difficulty.

"You can hear the occasional mooing and the pleasurable munching. After all, the fresh grass and the many herbs taste even better after the winter," they report. Some young animals are also already on the pasture. Several will be born this year. "The first cattle drive is an experience every year," says cattle farmer Mario Fleischhacker happily. More information at vonderhoad.at