A Scottish Highland cow embarks on a journey to a new life
Life is lived forwards and viewed backwards
For many years, Lisa the Highland cow lived in the barn of an organic farmer who lovingly looked after and cared for her. This loving treatment on the organic farm turned Lisa into a friendly and people-orientated cow, who became tame and not at all shy thanks to regular contact with people.
The family parted with their Lisa with a heavy heart
Lisa was born in 2013 on a family’s certified organic farm in Pongau. A small, fluffy calf grew up healthy and gave the farmer eight healthy Scottish Highland cattle calves. Scottish Highland cattle can give birth to calves up to the age of 18. On Lisa’s organic farm, the cows are not mated until they are 27 months old and are not expecting their first calf until they are three years old at the earliest. The animals grow up in a healthy and respectful atmosphere that takes their natural instincts and needs seriously.
Because of two miscarriages at the age of eleven and twelve, the vet advised against continuing to use Lisa for breeding. Lisa’s journey through life took a new path and led her to Gut Aiderbichl in Henndorf.
As a rule, when farm animals are no longer able to perform, they are driven to the nearest slaughterhouse in the slaughter lorry in order to get paid a few hundred euros for the animal.
The idea of ending Lisa’s life was out of the question for the family.
The junior farmer's girlfriend told us about Gut Aiderbichl
The junior farmer’s friend told us that Lisa could continue to lead a protected and loving life at Gut Aiderbichl, just as she had been used to at the farm all those years. She would have her usual exercise, care and species-appropriate husbandry for the rest of her life.
That all sounded very tempting. Her email enquiry reached the animal emergency centre, a few phone calls followed and then the time had come: Lisa was able to start her journey to the animal paradise Gut Aiderbichl. Life is lived forwards and looked at backwards – it was the right path for Lisa’s future.
Rest, security, grass under the hooves and organic wheat bran and fresh apples
We were told another little secret, namely that Lisa loves organic wheat bran mixed with fresh apples – we will of course be happy to fulfil this wish.
Lisa feels at home at Gut Aiderbichl from the very first moment. Her new cattle family includes Darla, a cow who was born blind, Snowy, a twin calf, and a few others. And one of them has fallen head over heels in love with Lisa ….
Sammy, a black Scottish Highland cow
Sammy is 18 years old and has been living at Gut Aiderbichl in Henndorf for eight years. He was bottle-fed by his owners, which was no easy task. He managed to be hand-reared, became a strong bull and was used as a breeding bull for many years. After years, he had to leave the farm due to the risk of inbreeding. As difficult as it was for Sammy’s owners, they were unable to keep him.
But the breeder had promised Sammy one thing: there would be no travelling to the slaughterhouse for him. His owners pulled out all the stops to find Sammy a place where he could enjoy his “retirement” and so Sammy came to Gut Aiderbichl in Henndorf.
Sammy is a very good-natured ox. He has a huge horn system and it’s important to watch his head movements so that you don’t get caught by his long horns.
He spent many years at Gut Aiderbichl together with Bambi, a blind cow, and Sarah, a very old former dairy cow, in the barn. Both passed away and the animal carers placed the small cattle Amadeus and Resi, later Darla, Snowy etc. in his stable. Sammy’s calmness radiates to the “little ones” and there is a wonderful harmony in his stable.
Now Lisa arrived and he fell madly in love with the beautiful “redhead”!
If having a soul means feeling love, loyalty and gratitude, then animals are much better off than many people.
– James Herriot
By: Gisela Pschenitschnig, Gut Aiderbichl
