Winter

As soon as the mountains are covered with snow and the landscapes transform into glittering ice worlds, a certain calm also returns to our mountain farmers. With the frost, the harvest season ends, which is why winter primarily involves work in and around the farm. The frozen ground also allows for gentler access to the forest with heavy machinery, which is why the Mayr family is now carrying out their forestry work. At the Maurers' farm, the animals are prepared for winter stabling; their fur is shorn, and hoof care measures are carried out. For the Schreyer family, it will become clear whether the three deciduous trees they registered for the valuable timber auction meet the quality requirements and if their efforts have paid off. Additionally, the Seehuber family offers fir branches, known as "Daxen," for sale as a sideline in winter, while Sepp Jackl harnesses his horses for nostalgic carriage rides through the winter landscape. Come along on a journey through the winter world of mountain farmers and experience how they shape this quiet but special season.

Feeding from reserves

When nature settles down and the cows have moved into the protective barn for the cold season, the daily work routine for mountain farmers also changes. Most of the work now takes place around the house and farm. At the latest with the first snow, the grazing season ends, and the transition to winter feeding takes place. Daily checks and routines, such as inspecting fences and water supply or driving animals to pastures, are no longer necessary. Instead, mountain farmers now rely on the feed reserves they have built up throughout the year. For economic reasons and quality, every effort is made to get through the winter with their own feed resources. Generally, the stored, farm-produced hay and silage supplies are sufficient until the coming spring.

Cows walk in a row in a farmyard in front of a farmhouse with wooden walls and white masonry.

A farmer in a barn feeds cows standing in rows at feeding gates, with hay spread on the floor.

A boy feeds cows in a barn with feed from a green shovel and a white bucket.

A farmer in a plaid shirt and straw hat tends to cows in a barn.

A boy in a grey hoodie holds a broomstick and stands in a cow shed with several brown and white cows.

A farmer tends to cows tied in a row in a barn.

A man in a plaid shirt and straw hat feeds a cow in a wooden animal shed.

A female farmer strokes black and white cows eating hay in a barn.

Cows in a barn eating feed from designated areas on the floor.

Fir branches for the Christmas season

As Christmas approaches, it's time for 'Daxen'. 'Daxen' is the local term for coniferous branches, often used as Advent decorations or for frost protection in gardens. Especially during the Christmas season, they are a sought-after commodity and a welcome additional source of income for our mountain farmers. During winter logging, these coveted bundles of branches are also cut and prepared for sale at the market. The winter months are often preferred for the extensive work in the forest because the frozen ground allows heavier machinery to enter the forest without causing lasting damage. Their own forest is an extremely valuable asset for our mountain farmers, passed down from generation to generation. Only through careful maintenance and management can its value be preserved and secured for future generations.

Three men logging in the forest, wearing protective clothing and lifting a log.

Man in orange work clothes sits in a tractor, surrounded by forest.

Forest worker in protective clothing saws a tree in a wooded area with tall vegetation in sunlight.

Forester in protective clothing saws with a chainsaw in a wooded area next to a tree.

Four people load Christmas trees onto a trailer in a wooded area.

Forest worker with a hard hat and chainsaw cutting a log in the forest.

Four people load fir branches from a forest onto a trailer on a sunny day.

Smiling man in orange work clothes with a hard hat next to a smiling woman in a black jacket and blue headband against a forest background.

Hygiene measures for animal health

A well-groomed coat and healthy hooves are crucial for the well-being and health of animals. For our mountain farmers Andrea and Michael Maurer, shearing the cows is also part of their hygiene measures. This helps prevent parasites from settling in their coats, among other things. Since cows develop a thicker winter coat in late autumn due to falling temperatures, shearing also prevents the animals from sweating excessively in the stable and suffering from respiratory diseases caused by drafts. Regular brushing is also part of keeping the cows clean and serves as a soothing massage. For hoof care, which among other things helps prevent malpositions, the animals are led individually from the stable into the hoof-trimming chute. To minimize stress for the animals despite the unfamiliar situation, mountain farmer Michael Maurer ties a cloth over their eyes for the journey to the equipment. They then carefully follow his familiar voice. Once in the hoof chute, Michael Maurer carefully trims and grinds their hooves before leading his cows back to the stable.

A farmer wearing blue overalls and a straw hat shears a cow in the stable with electric clippers.

A farmer trims the winter coat of a brown and white cow with electric clippers.

A farmer works on a cow's hooves with an electric grinder on a farm.

Close-up of shorn cowhide and a red clipper handpiece on the floor of a stable.

A farmer in work clothes and a straw hat leads a blindfolded cow by a rope past a farm building.

A farmer wearing gloves cleans a cow's hooves with a hoof knife outdoors.

Two farmers care for a cow's hooves in a metal chute on a farm.

A farmer works on a cow's hooves with an electric tool in a metal frame on a sunny day on the farm.

A farmer attends to and cares for a cow's hooves in a blue hoof-trimming chute in front of a farmhouse with wooden and white walls.

Farmer trims a cow's hooves with an electric grinder outdoors.

Nostalgic carriage rides

The clatter of hooves and the jingle of harness from a horse-drawn carriage in a winter landscape has a calming and unhurried effect on us humans. Horse-drawn carriages have accompanied us for centuries. In rural areas, horses are still used for work in the forest. For Sepp Jackl, his three heavy horses and the carriage rides are not just a sideline to his farm, but above all a passion. For 40 years, Sepp has been offering nostalgic carriage rides for birthdays, weddings, or corporate events. Guests enjoy this relaxed mode of transport through the picturesque landscape. In the past, Sepp even drove a horse-drawn sleigh as Santa Claus to visit children in winter. The cold-blooded horses visibly enjoy their shower and grooming. They exude a calmness that testifies to a close mutual trust with their owner. Even when the animals are harnessed and routinely pull the carriage, the coachman and horses appear to be a well-coordinated team.

Older man in a grey jacket and black hat strokes a brown horse in the stable, another horse looks out from the neighboring stall.

An older man in a hat puts a bridle on a brown horse in the stable.

An older man and a woman prepare two horses, while the man holds a large horseshoe-shaped device.

Man in yellow rubber boots washes a horse with a pressure washer outdoors on a sunny day.

An older man with glasses and a knitted hat brushes a brown horse in a bright stable.

Two horses pull a covered wooden carriage across a snow-covered field under a clear sky.

A snow-covered winter landscape with a forest in the background and a two-horse-drawn carriage with a green roof.

Wooden hut with a snow-covered roof next to a frosty field under a clear sky and bright sun.

Valuable trees for a special auction

Precious woods like maple or ash are true treasures of nature – a single tree can fetch several thousand euros at a valuable timber auction, known as a 'submission'. Only every ten to twenty years does the opportunity arise at the Schreyer family farm to provide suitable deciduous trees for such an auction. When the right time for felling comes, utmost care is essential. The valuable tree is cut as low as possible to secure maximum length and then carefully brought to the ground. However, once this precious commodity is felled, the truly exciting part begins. Now it becomes clear whether the wood actually meets the high requirements for the auction and can be sold alongside other precious woods, or not. For example, for Klaus Schreyer Sr. and his son Klaus Jr., one of the selected trees turned out to be rotten and cracked inside after felling – unsuitable for the valuable timber auction and only usable as firewood. Despite this risk, precious wood represents a valuable source of income, especially due to society's growing appreciation for high-quality, regional resources.

A lumberjack with a hard hat and hearing protection saws a large log with a chainsaw.

A logger with a hard hat and hearing protection uses a chainsaw on a log, with another man standing in a snowy field in the background.

A man in protective clothing and a helmet uses a chainsaw to cut a large log in the forest on a sunny day.

Two men in winter clothing with hats, one writing on a clipboard outdoors in the snow with mountains in the background.

Two men use chainsaws to cut branches from fallen trees in a lightly snow-covered forest area, with mountains and a tractor in the background.

A mountain farmer in a traditional hat holds a child dressed in blue winter clothing, sitting on a moss-covered log.

Three men saw and clear a large log in the snow in a winter forest.

Two men in winter clothing next to a felled log in a snowy forest, one of them writing on a clipboard.

Two men sawing a large log in the snow with a chainsaw, sunlight shining through snowy fir trees in the background.

Valuable Trees for a Special Auction

Precious woods like maple or ash are true treasures of nature – a single tree can fetch several thousand euros at a valuable timber auction, known as a submission. Only every ten to 20 years does the opportunity arise at the Schreyer family farm to provide suitable deciduous trees for such an auction. When the right time for felling comes, utmost care is required. The valuable tree is cut as low as possible to secure maximum length and then carefully brought to the ground. However, once the precious timber is felled, the truly exciting part begins. Now it becomes clear whether the wood actually meets the high requirements for the auction and can be sold alongside other precious woods. For example, for Klaus Schreyer Sr. and his son Klaus Jr., one of the selected trees turned out to be rotten and cracked inside after felling – unsuitable for the valuable timber auction and only usable as firewood. Despite this risk, precious wood represents a valuable source of income, especially due to society's growing appreciation for high-quality, regional resources.

Bird's-eye view of a snowy forest with tall fir trees and a path where lumberjacks are at work.

Forest worker in orange and black safety gear with a helmet and face shield stands in a snowy forest next to a felled log.

Forest worker in protective clothing marking a log with an axe in a snowy forest.

Young man in a winter jacket sitting in a tractor with a snowy background, an axe handle visible in the back.

Two workers with safety helmets and chainsaws felling a tree trunk in a snowy forest.

Two forest workers in winter, operating a machine that lifts a log from the snow-covered forest.

Red tractor with a trailer transporting logs through a snowy forest.

Winter timber processing with a tractor and lifting device for moving logs next to a barn.

Person operating an LT20 band saw machine in a woodworking shop, while wood chips fall into a blue bucket.

Valuable Trees for a Special Auction

Woman in a gray hoodie stirring food in a pan on a stove in a rustic kitchen with a wood-burning oven and spice rack.

Three people sit at a table, sharing a meal of Spätzle and salad in a cozy eat-in kitchen.

Windowsill with wooden nativity scene, green candle holder, flowerpot with fern, and an open magazine.

Four people sit at a wooden table in a cozy room with wood paneling and a window with red curtains.

Four people sit around a wooden table in a rustic room with a window and wooden walls.