Cattle Deaths In Austria: Fact Or Fiction?

Cattle are a significant part of Austria's livestock, and the country has implemented various regulations and control programs to manage and prevent specific cattle diseases. While there have been incidents of cattle-related deaths in Austria, the statement cattle died in Austria requires additional context. It is unclear if you are referring to isolated incidents or a broader issue affecting multiple cattle.

In recent years, there have been reports of deaths and injuries caused by cattle in Austria. For example, in 2014, a steer killed a farmer, and there were also cases of hikers being attacked and killed by cows. Additionally, Austria has had to tackle various cattle diseases, such as enzootic bovine leukosis, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, bovine viral diarrhea, and bluetongue disease. These diseases have resulted in the culling and testing of cattle to prevent outbreaks and ensure the safety of consumers.

Moreover, cattle are an integral part of Austria's agriculture and economy, with the country exporting and importing a significant number of cattle annually. Therefore, maintaining a disease-free cattle population is crucial for the country's livestock trade.

In conclusion, while cattle deaths have occurred in Austria due to various reasons, including accidents and diseases, providing more context about the specific incident or situation you are referring to would be helpful to answer your question more comprehensively.

Cattle-related deaths and injuries on the rise in Austria

Austrian cattle pose a threat to human life

In recent years, Austrian cattle have been responsible for several deaths and injuries. In one instance, a steer killed a 49-year-old farmer while he was working in its stall. In another incident, a herd of cows attacked and killed a German woman hiking through their pasture in Tyrol province, apparently riled by the sight of her leashed dog. These are not isolated events, as at least two other people have been injured by cattle in Austria since then.

Cattle diseases are a concern for Austrian farmers

Austria has implemented various regulations and control programs to mitigate the impact of cattle diseases. For example, the country has addressed enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IBR/IPV), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), and bluetongue disease (BT). While EBL and IBR/IPV have been eradicated, BT remains a challenge due to the uncontrollable entry of infected vectors.

The impact of cattle on human safety and health

The presence of cattle in Austria has led to an increase in deaths and injuries. Additionally, cattle diseases are a constant concern for farmers, who must navigate complex regulations and control programs. While Austria has made significant progress in addressing these issues, the threat of BT remains due to the difficulty in controlling infected vectors. Overall, the situation highlights the complex relationship between humans and cattle in Austria, requiring careful management to ensure the safety and well-being of both parties.

Austrian slaughterhouses examined for prevalence of pregnant cattle

Cattle constitute a major part of the livestock in Austria. While dairy cows are sent to slaughter at the end of their production cycle, heifers are admitted to slaughter either after a fattening period or because of reproductive disorders. In several countries, evidence has been presented that pregnant female cattle are admitted to slaughter, with implications for animal welfare and meat quality.

Until 2021, no data were available on the frequency of pregnant cattle slaughtered in Austria. Over a one-year period, 1633 female cattle in one abattoir were examined, and pregnancy was detected in 104 animals (6.4%). Sixteen cattle were in the last third of gestation. Percentages of pregnant cattle sent to slaughter were higher in beef and dual-purpose breeds than in dairy cattle, but this was not statistically significant.

Measures to minimize the number of pregnant cattle sent to slaughter should be implemented at the farm level. The slaughter of pregnant cattle raises ethical and moral questions regarding animal welfare and consumer concerns about higher levels of sex steroids in the meat from pregnant cattle.

Enzootic Bovine Leukosis (EBL) control in Austria

Enzootic Bovine Leukosis (EBL) is an infectious disease caused by the bovine leukemia virus (BLV), a retrovirus and oncogenic member of the Deltaretrovirus genus. Infections are mostly subclinical, but around 30% of infected cattle develop a persistent lymphocytosis caused by B-cell expansion; fewer than 5% of infected animals develop tumours, typically observed in animals older than 3 years. The transmission of BLV can be vertical, by in utero infection or colostrum intake, or horizontal, by direct animal contact, oral or parenteral viral uptake, iatrogenic means, or hematophagous flies.

Austria's control of EBL started in 1979 with a voluntary eradication programme, which was financially promoted by the federal and state governments. This was followed by a national compulsory eradication programme in 1982, which required all animals older than 2 years to be periodically tested at intervals of 21–27 months. All animals reacting to any of the tests (positively tested animals) had to be slaughtered, including:

• Cattle with a positive antigen test
• Cattle >6 months with a positive antibody test
• Cattle >6 months with three inconclusive antibody tests in a row (exceptions existed for pregnant animals listed in a breed register or of special endangered breeds)
• Calves <6 months born to or suckled from a positively tested animal

The number of detected positively tested animals decreased from 842 (in 318 holdings) in 1983 to 26 (in 14 holdings) in 1985. In 1986, Austria declared all its federal states disease-free. In 1999, Austria achieved officially EBL-free status.

In 2007, the nationwide already established bulk milk testing was applied, and ~35,000 holdings were tested each year from 2007 onwards. Consequently, the number of individually tested animals decreased to 30,000 per year, compared to 600,000 previously. A further reduction in the sample size occurred in 2013 due to the harmonization of the control of EBL, IBR/IPV, and B. abortus in one law and sampling plan. This annual sampling plan should ensure that <0.2% of livestock are infected with a confidence rating of 99%.

The last positively tested animal was found in Austria in 2006, without consequences for the disease-free status. The disease-free status remains as long as 99.8% of livestock has a disease-free status. For stocks that lose their declared disease-free status, it is forbidden to market animals, participate in shows, introduce new animals into the herd, use animals for the recovery of semen or embryos, or involve animals in mating. To regain the EBL-free status, all positively tested animals have to be removed, and after a monitored disinfection supervised by the governments, all remaining animals >6 months have to be tested negative twice within an interval of at least 6 months.

Bluetongue disease (BT) control in Austria

Bluetongue disease (BT) is caused by the bluetongue virus (BTV), a member of the genus Orbivirus within the family Reoviridae. There are 28 different serotypes of BTV, which primarily affects sheep and some wild ruminants. Clinical signs of BTV infection in these animals include oral erosions and ulcers, lameness, weakness, depression, and facial edema. While clinical infections in cattle were not observed until 2006, BT was considered an exotic disease in Europe until 1998 when it was introduced to the Mediterranean Basin.

In Austria, BT was listed as a notifiable disease in the Austrian Animal Disease Act in 1993/1994, and in 1996/97, the import and translocation of animals from affected regions were forbidden. A nationwide surveillance program and two legislative regulations for BT surveillance and control/eradication were established in 2007. The surveillance program is fully financed by the federal government and is based on four pillars: (1) a sampling plan for serological examinations, (2) the use of sentinel animals, (3) the surveillance of vectors via traps, and (4) passive surveillance by examining suspicious clinical cases. The sampling plan aims to demonstrate the absence of BT, and vector traps are used to define seasonally vector-free periods.

In response to the BTV-8 outbreak in northern Europe and detected cases in southern Germany in 2007, Austria established restricted zones in western federal territory. The whole of Austria was declared a uniform restricted zone by the end of 2008, and by the end of March 2009, 1,600,000 cattle, 344,000 sheep, and 65,000 goats were vaccinated. A total of 11 positive animals were detected in 2008, and the last positive detection of BTV-8 in a PCR test was in March 2009. The Austrian government switched from a mandatory vaccination to a voluntary vaccination campaign during 2009, and all restricted zones were repealed in March 2011. A sampling plan for a seasonal surveillance program was then implemented, testing ~1,250 susceptible animals each year.

In 2015, Austria increased surveillance activities in response to BTV-4 outbreaks in southeastern Europe, including a high-risk zone in southeast Austria with monthly testing activities. A restricted zone in eastern Austria was established in November 2015 after detecting BTV-4-positive cattle, and this zone was extended in December 2016 when the last positive cattle were detected. All restricted zones were repealed in February 2019.

Currently, surveillance in Austria is based on the quarterly testing of 60 unvaccinated animals in each of the 28 regional units, demonstrating a disease-free status with 95% confidence at a target of 5% prevalence. Additionally, nine vector traps are used to monitor the distribution of Culicoides spp. and determine seasonally vector-free periods.

Cattle breeds considered wholly or partly of Austrian origin

Cattle deaths in Austria have been reported in the news, with one article reporting that a steer killed a farmer in western Austria. However, the focus of this response will be on providing information about various cattle breeds considered wholly or partly of Austrian origin, as per your request.

Austria is home to several unique cattle breeds, some of which have complex or obscure histories. Here is a list of Austrian cattle breeds:

Ennstaler Bergscheck

Endangered Austrian breed also known as "Ennstal Mountain Pied Cattle." They are small, light-coloured cattle with white spots and foxy red fur. They were once used for draft and beef but were replaced by other breeds in the 18th century. Today, they are conserved by organisations like the Union for the Conservation of Endangered Domestic Animal Breeds (VEGH).

Österreichisches Braunvieh

This breed, also known as "Brown Cow," originated in central Switzerland and spread to Tyrol, Austria. They are grey to brown with white ears and muzzles and have horns. They are used for both dairy and beef purposes.

Österreichisches Gelbvieh

Tall-growing, long-horned, muscular cattle with solid yellow colouring. They are a dual-purpose breed used for beef and are known for their fast growth, feed efficiency, and early maturity.

Pustertaler Sprinzen

A rare breed from the Puster Valley in what is now northeastern Italy. They are white with chestnut-brown, light brown, or black markings on their flanks. They are reared in Austria, Germany, Italy, and South Africa.

Waldviertler Blondvieh

Small-framed, long-lived cattle with a narrow body and light blonde to bread-coloured fur. They are dual-use cattle known for their meat and milk production.

Oststeirisches Fleckvieh

Steirisches Braunvieh

These two breeds are also included in the list of Austrian cattle breeds, but specific information about them was not readily available.

While these breeds are considered wholly or partly of Austrian origin, it is important to note that their histories may be complex, and their presence in other regions or countries does not necessarily imply exclusivity to Austria.

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