May 13, 1971, was a very sad day for the Tux-Zillertal community—fittingly marked by the number “13.” The last cow of the breed was slaughtered, and it was believed that the breed had become extinct. At the House of Nature in Salzburg, this so-called “last” Tux cow from the stable of Josef Brugger (“Kirmer-Zuhäusl”) in Stummerberg was taxidermied and put on display. Thankfully, this turned out to be a misjudgment. Due to extensive media coverage in the Tiroler Tageszeitung at the time, the breed received renewed attention. Suddenly, many people realized what had almost been lost forever. “A cultural treasure and the original Tyrolean breed,” added Josef Steinberger, a member of the advisory board of the Fügen Local History Museum, which has hosted a special exhibition on the breed since 2001. Today, there is pride in the fact that around 250 breeders keep approximately 2,000 cattle in Austria.

A unique tradition of the Tux-Zillertal breed was the so-called “cow fighting,” with the largest competitions traditionally held at the Gauderfest in Zell am Ziller until the 1950s. As an original Tyrolean breed, the Tux-Zillertal cattle have a rich history, including cow fighting, cattle drives to Russia, and a deep emotional connection to the Tux and Ziller valleys. Although cow fighting no longer takes place, breeders remain committed to preserving this original Tyrolean breed and its legacy for future generations.

Text: Christian Moser

Photos:

The photo titled “Cow Fight” is from the Gauderfest and is believed to date back to the 1930s.

Photo Gänsluckner: This lithograph from 1913 shows Franz Gänsluckner (“Obergans”) from Fügenberg with his prize-winning cow “Hugo.” She was given the male name “Hugo” due to her exceptional fighting strength. The creation of the image is said to have cost as much as a cow itself.

Photo “Last Cow”: This image is from the book “The Tux-Zillertal Cattle – A Piece of Tyrolean Culture” by Christian Moser and Martin Reiter, and shows the so-called “last” Tux cow, taxidermied and displayed at the House of Nature in Salzburg.