The life of dairy farmers

“The 38-hour week ends for us on Wednesday”

Karin and Herbert Weiss let us take a look behind the barn doors.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Jürgen Fuchs)

Leutschach in southern Styria is famous for its wine culture - among 174 winegrowers, the Weiss couple and their dairy cows have almost exotic status. A look behind the barn doors of a family whose 38-hour week ends on Wednesday afternoons.

Their names are "Beate", "Alexa" and "Sunshine" and they are having a mid-morning nap when we visit, looking quite content in their large playpen. Of course, Karin and Herbert Weiss would also allow them to graze, but that is one of the biggest challenges here in Fötschach near Leutschach: "There isn't enough space." There is a road in front of the barn and a meadow behind it, "but it's only leased and too small for our 50 cows".