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germanythe murnau-werdenFels was common in bavaria untilit was replaced by other, more productive cattle. but traditional breeds are about much more than yield: local adaptation, healthy meat, good Farming practicesmilk, meatand laboRRupeRt g. ebneRIn the past, life at the foot of the Zug- spitze, the highest mountain in the Ger- man Alps, was not easy. Agriculture was impossible and fodder for cattle, which grew in the swampy meadows, could only be transformed into nutritious food for humans after long mastication by the animals and the action of a well-function- ing rumen. In the summer months, the mountain pastures would fill with flavorful grasses and flowers rich in nutrients. To reach them, the cattle needed a sturdy, muscular frame and strong, resilient hooves. Thanks to centuries of selec- tion carried out by the local farmers, a cattle breed developed that was able to easily cope with the local conditions: the Murnau-Werdenfels.reSilient breedSThe farmers in the agricultural areas slightly further north soon realized that these animals not only produced excel- lent milk for the production of cheese and delicious beef, but that their docile nature and extraordinary physical char- acteristics made them ideal for use as draft animals. The demand for Mur- nau-Werdenfels oxen began to grow, guaranteeing the Werdenfels farmers an important source of income. Then, two centuries ago, this began to have animal husbandry consequences; the cattle were in such high demand as draft animals that the best bulls were not used for reproduction, but cas- trated and sold. However, once the farmers realized the problem, they be-117