Family-based cattle fattening on alpine pastures

Oberniederhof is a family-run farm in Schnalstal, South Tyrol, dedicated to ethical, grassland-based beef production. Calves stay with their mothers until natural weaning, avoiding human intervention. From early July to mid-September, cattle graze on 240 hectares of alpine pasture above 2,000 m at Mittelkaser Alm, with no supplementary feed. The farm combines valley meadows and high-altitude alpine pastures, reducing summer workload and enabling focused forage harvesting, direct marketing, and guest services. Beef is raised entirely on pasture, supporting sustainable, transparent, and direct sales. Photo: Versuchszentrum Laibnug und BioLand SüdTirol. Funded by the European Union.