Westerwald cattle

Here is the grave of the Westerwald cattle. Unfortunately, this breed is already extinct.

Here is the grave of the so-called Westerwald cattle. Unfortunately, this breed is already extinct. As the name suggests, Westerwald cattle were bred in the Westerwald. This is a region in the West of Germany near Bonn and Koblenz. Farming used to be difficult there: poor soil and harsh climate led to low yields. There were many small farms with little land and few animals. Cattle were used for milk and meat production and as draught animals. That is why they are called three-purpose cattle.

Westerwald cattle were rather small, about a meter twenty high. Their fur was reddish brown with white spots on head and belly. They had a reddish brown ring around the eyes.

Agriculture changed and many small farms were replaced by few large farms. The large farms concentrated on milk and meat production and did not use cattle as draught animals any more. They contemptuously called the Westerwald „hunger cattle“ and preferred larger breeds which produced more milk and gained more meat in a shorter time.

The last pure-bred Westerwald cattle were slaughtered shortly after the Second World War.