Ennstal Mountain Pied cattle
The Ennstaler Bergscheck ("Ennstal Mountain Pied Cattle") is an endangered Austrian breed of domestic cattle. The name comes from the Ennstal, the valley of the Enns River. The small light Ennstaler Bergscheck was long believed to have originated from the Bavarian Weißkopfscheck ("White-headed Pied Cattle") but recent archaeological discoveries indicate descent from the local cattle of the La Tène period (5th–1st centuries BC). Once they were almost totally foxy red before the white spots in their fur increased, until 75%–80% of the fur was white with only the loin and the side remaining clouded or with fringed spots. The inner ears are coloured. Horns, hooves and mucosas are mostly pigment free. The breed was once popular as a draft and beef animal but in the 18th century was replaced by Murboden Cattle, Pinzgau Cattle, or Carinthian Blondvieh. The animals are fully developed after two years in the Alps, so they count as the earliest maturing alpine cattle breed. Although they do not become fat their beef is well marbled. It was thought that the last two cows had been slaughtered in 1986, but some surviving animals were found. Their conservation is organised by the Union for the Conservation of Endangered Domestic Animal Breeds (VEGH) and the Austrian National Union for Gene Reserves. By the year 2004, the population in Austria had returned to 65 animals on 6 farms.
| Life Span | 18-22 years |
| Weight | 450-900 kg |
What to Know Before Buying an Ennstal Mountain Pied cattle
Finding a responsible Ennstal Mountain Pied cattle breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells cattles commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Ennstal Mountain Pied cattle. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Ennstal Mountain Pied cattles appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
Looking for an Ennstal Mountain Pied cattle breeder?
Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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