Mölltal- Glockner Lamm

 
Record Number: 25
 
Disclosure Date
Since the Early Middle Ages traditional sheep husbandry on “Schafschwaigen” in Carinthia.
 

Photo: BM...

Title
Mölltal- Glockner Lamm
 
 
 
Abstract or claim
The production of Mölltal- Glockner Lamm is the result of Traditional Knowledge on sheep breeding and animal farming in the alpine area of Carinthia.
Mölltal- Glockner Lamm is a young lamb, 6-8 months old, with light-coloured, smooth, and mild-tasting meat.
Mölltal- Glockner Lamm is the result of crossing ewes of the local breed Tiroler Steinschaf with rams of a meat breed.
It is raised under traditional extensive sheep-keeping conditions in the alpine region Mölltal, thus contributing to the preservation of the cultivated landscape.
 
Name of product, Product class
Lamb meat, fresh meat
 
Name of region
Mölltal, Carinthia, Austria
 
Field of search
Food and Agriculture
 
Name of information provider
Arge Mölltal-Glocknerlamm
Chairman: Alex Pichler
 
Name of applicant for title
---
 
Holder of knowledge or associated resources
94 farmers rearing sheep in the Mölltal between the municipalities Heiligenbut and Winklern 
 
Grantee(s), holder(s),
assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
---
 
Descriptors
- History:
Sheep are one of the earliest animals to be domesticated and have provided people with meat, milk, pelts and wool since Neolithic times. Sheep husbandry probably originated in the Southwest-Asian Steppes and was brought to Central Europe via Persia and the Balkans.
 
Since the middle of the 12^th  century a special form of intensive animal husbandry is reported from Carinthia, the so called “Schwaigen”. “Schwaig” is a Middle High German word which refers to a special type of settlement and, even more, farming, in alpine regions. Often "Schwaighof" farmhouses were established as permanent settlements by sovereigns themselves and used for breeding cattle and sheep, especially for the purpose of dairy farming (in particular for cheese production).
In Carinthia they have been documented since the early middle Ages.
Later, the term “Schwaige” was sometimes used to refer to alpine pastures used only during the summer months. Dairymen and dairymaids are also referred to as "Schwaiger" and "Schwaigerin".
 
“Schafschwaige” is an area restricted to sheep husbandry.
To the end of the 14^th  century the keeping of sheep was predominant on “Schwaighöfen”.
 
The keeping of sheep on alpine pastures which were ill-suited for cattle has a long tradition in Carinthia. Thus, sheep have been kept in the Upper Möll valley (Oberes Mölltal) over centuries, as they were excellently suited for steep alpine pastures and slopes.
 
In the 18^th  century above all the breed “Steinschaf” (vernacular: “Stanhappel”) was widespread in the Mölltal.
 
In 2003 the co-operative ARGE Glocknerlamm was founded.
 
In 2005 the designation “Glockner Lamm” was registered as a word/picture trademark.
 
- Region:
Mölltal (Möll valley) is a high-alpine valley in the Federal Province of Carinthia and derives its name from the river Möll which flows through the valley.
 
The Mölltal is a part of the National Park Hohe Tauern and is bordered by the mountain range of the Glockner and Schobergruppe with Austria’s highest mountain, the Großglockner (3.798 m).
 
In the context of “Regions of Delight” the region Mölltal- Glockner Lamm encompasses the municipalities Heiligenblut, Großkirchheim, Mörtschach, and Winklern.
 
Habitat:
Sheep of Mölltal- Glockner Lamm graze on alpine pastures at altitudes up to 3.000 m.
 
The regional climatic and soil conditions result in a mountain flora which is characterized by a great diversity of alpine plants.
The specific diversity of grasses and herbs in the fodder and the hay provides the basis for the unique taste of Mölltal- Glockner Lamm.
 
Extensive sheep husbandry contributes to the stability of the vegetation cover and to an improved water storage capacity.
 
Climatic and soil conditions:
The Mölltal is an inner-alpine dry area showing hygric continental climatic conditions due to its location in the lee of the Northern and Southern Limestone Alps.
 
The annual precipitation is largely below 1.000 mm (on average 700 – 800 mm) and below 1.300 mm at an altitude of 1.700 m.
The average temperature is -6 to -3 °C in January and 14 to 18 °C in July.
 
- Mölltal-Glockner Lamm:
A lamb of Mölltal- Glockner Lamm is born and raised on the same sheep farm in the Mölltal.
 
Breeding flocks mainly consist of ewes of the local breed Tiroler Bergschaf, which are born and raised in the Mölltal or are occasionally purchased in East Tyrol.
 
The Tiroler Bergschaf is the result of crossing Tiroler Steinschaf and Bergamasca sheep. It is a robust, medium-sized to big-sized sheep with long, broad, lopped ears. Both sexes are polled.
 
The rams stem from meat breeds (Jura, Suffolk, Blackheaded sheep) originating from populations in Mölltal and partly from East Tyrol.
 
It is well adapted to the dry, harsh weather conditions of the mountain areas in Carinthia. It is robust and sure-footed on alpine terrain.
 
Breeding/Fattening:
The method of raising the breeding flock is specific to the region.
It entails extensive rearing systems with livestock limited to 0.15 LU (Livestock Unit) per ha of total feed-crop area (7 sheep correspond to 1 Livestock Unit). On average the part-time farmers keep 20 - 30 sheep on about 4 - 8 hectares.
 
From March to November the lambs are kept on pastures together with their mother-ewes. This management method ensures breeding in natural environment and is an essential factor for the well-being of the animals. The population density is limited by the available grassland.
Grazing sheep find a wide range of aromatic alpine herbs and plants on the steep slopes and alpine pastures.
This diversity of the flora contributes to the quality of the milk and, consequently, to the healthy development of the lambs.
 
During winter the sheep are kept in loose housing systems. Dependent on weather conditions and site of the farms, the sheep may roam freely outside.
 
Feeding:
Lambs are suckled by their mothers throughout their lives. Only a few weeks before slaughter the lambs may be fattened without milk for finishing purposes.
 
Lambs that are rejected by the ewe or whose ewe is sick or dead require bottle-feeding.
 
If necessary, grass or hay originating from the farm may be given additionally.
 
Moreover, flakes of ”Lämmerkorn” (shredded mixture of grains) may be fed.
 
The use of silage fodder is allowed for adult sheep and for lambs. However, hay is mainly fed in addition.
 
In the stables mixed provender is fed in specific feeding devices (“Lämmerschlupf”) accessible to lambs, but not to adult sheep. These devices are used for targeted fattening.
 
Moreover, licking stones are offered which provide the sheep with minerals and sodium chloride.
The administering of antibiotics as a preventive measure is banned.
 
Lambing:
The lambing periods are spring (March to May) and autumn (mid-September to mid-December).
The method of all-season lambing is disapproved.
 
Transport and Slaughtering:
The lambs are slaughtered before they reach sexual maturity, at an age of 6 - 8 months on average. The slaughtering weight is between 18 - 22 kg, which corresponds to about 40 - 45 kg on the hoof.
 
Sheep are slaughtered in two peasant cooperative slaughterhouses in Apriach-Großkirchheim and Mörtschach. Slaughtering is only for the regional market (gastronomy, end consumer).
 
Sheep are brought to the slaughterhouse mainly by the farmers themselves in order to ensure short transports and better meat quality due to less stress.
 
The carcasses are consecutively numbered for identification purposes.
 
Description of meat and carcasses:
The meat is from lambs born and raised in the Mölltal.
The meat is very tender, mild in taste, but aromatic. As the lambs are slaughtered before reaching sexual maturity, the meat is remarkably fine-fibred.
The fat of young lambs has a low melting point and does not taste tallowy.
Mölltal- Glockner Lamm meat has a very unique aroma and flavour, which is an immediate consequence of the uptaken native plants growing on high-alpine pastures.
 
The meat conforms E, U, R in the EUROP grading scale.
Fat cover is 2 - 3 in the EUROP grading scale.
 
Lamb meat is poor in fat (3.7 %) and rich in valuable proteins.
 
Controls:
Meat safety and quality are ensured by official veterinary checks.
 
Proof of origin:
The lambs are identified by means of an official mark (ear tag) in accordance with the Austrian Animal Identification and Registration Ordinance (Tierkennzeichnungs- und Registrierungsverordnung) 2007.
As a consequence, traceability is ensured from the point of sale to the sheep farm. This means that at each state of production the meat can be traced back to the lamb and the holding on which it was born.
 
- Marketing:
Lamb meat is marketed directly by farmers or by the cooperative ARGE Glocknerlamm to private consumers, retailers or to the regional gastronomy.
 
In domestic food trade, lambs are marketed mainly in autumn after grazing on alpine pastures (grazing lambs) or in spring after hibernation in stables (fattened lambs).
 
Marketing is promoted by the Glocknerlamm festival in Heiligenblut, which is always held at the every third weekend in September.
 
Connection with the geographic area and Traditional Knowledge:
- Specific soil and climate conditions in the alpine region of Mölltal result in a richness of native
  alpine flora which enables extensive   sheep keeping on alpine pastures at altitudes beyond 3.000 m.
- The ewes are local breeds (Tiroler Bergschaf).
- Characteristic rearing systems: Extensive management of flocks on alpine pastures during the
  vegetation period.
- Strong link with the area: Lambs are fed on milk (suckled), grazed, and fed with fodder produced
  mainly on the holding.
- This type of management produces young lambs with specific characteristics in terms of conformation,
  with light-coloured meat and fat and a tender, mild-tasting meat.
- The production of Mölltal- Glockner Lamm is the result of Traditional Knowledge passed down to the
  partners in the sector: Traditional Knowledge and experience of sheep farmers (adapting the
  management of flocks to environmental constraints, historical selection of local breeds, the expertise
  of shepherds, the method of producing lambs, shepherding in mountain areas, genetic improvement,
  the know-how of butchers (providing early advice to breeders, selecting the live animals and the
  carcasses and the experience of the producer organisations).
 
- Utilization:
Meat lamb itself and processed is regarded as regional delicacy. Such products are e.g. fresh lamb meat, Leberkäse (meat loaf), cured lamb meat, Bratwurst and Krainerwürstl (sausages) , Glocknerlamm-Suppe (soup), Glocknerlamm-Sulze (aspic), Lammfleischkrapfen (doughnuts).
 
In addition to the production of meat from Mölltal- Glockner Lamm, also the production of other traditional ewe’s milk specialties such as ewe’s milk cheese as well as the processing of the close-to-nature raw material sheep wool are playing an important role.
 
- Protection:
Word/picture trademark “Glockner Lamm” (Austrian Patent Office Register No 222 651, 21 Jan. 2005).
 
Key Words
Food and Agriculture, Traditional Knowledge, Austria, Carinthia, region, Mölltal, Heiligenblut, Großkirchheim, Mörtschach, Winklern, sheep, lamb, Tiroler Bergschaf, lamb meat, Mölltal- Glockner Lamm
 
Bibliography / References
- Dirlmeier U., Fouquet G., Fuhrmann B. Europa im Spätmittelalter 1215- 1378, Oldenbourg
  Wissenschaftsverlag  2003, pp. 28-29.
- Geschichte- Das Schaf eines der ältesten Haustiere der Welt 
  http://www.ama-marketing.at/index.php?id=371
- Glocknerlamm-Fest lockte tausende Besucher an
  http://www.kleinezeitung.at/freizeit/lokalerezepte/kuchlmasta/560817/index.do
- Klimapotential für den Tourismus in Flattach, Ingeborg Auer, Reinhard Böhm, Eva Korus. Zentralanstalt
  für Meteorologie und Geodynamik, Wien
  http://www.zamg.ac.at/a-tale-of-two-valleys/documents/ZV_10F.pdf 
- MAIER- BRUCK F. Kärnten. Fleischgerichte. In: Vom Essen auf dem Lande. Das große Buch der
  österreichsichen Bauernküche und Hausmannskost. Verlag Kremayr & Scheriau: Wien: 1995, p. 85.
- Mölltal- Glockner Lamm
  www.genuss-region.at
- Region Grossglockner - Mölltal (AT-KT03)
  http://php.leader-austria.at/hpold/lags/glockner.htm
- Rund ums Schaf
  http://www.neuesland.at/archiv/years/2007/11/NELA_LAND_0316_32_X.pdf
- Schafe und Ziegen als Nutztiere
  http://www.alpinetgheep.com/index.php?verbands_kennung=26&site=landschaftspflege&landschaftspflege_kategorie=2&landschaftspflege_inhalt=7&kat_innerhalb=2 - Schwaige
  http://aeiou.iicm.tugraz.at/aeiou.encyclop.s/s433158.htm;internal&action=_setlanguage.action?LANGUAGE=en
- Austrian Animal Identification and Registration Ordinance 2007 (Verordnung der Bundesministerin
  für Gesundheit, Familie und Jugend über die Kennzeichnung und Registrierung von Schweinen,
  Schafen und Ziegen
  www.sbg.ac.at/ver/links/bgbl/2007b166.pdf
- Tiroler Bergschaf
  http://www.alpinetgheep.at/?site=rassen&verbands_kennung=9&rassen_kategorie=1
- Tiroler Bergschaf
  http://www.schafe-ooe.at/Rassen/Tiroler-Bergschaf.html
- Tiroler Bergschaf
  http://www.schafundziege.at/index.php?id=61
- Wallner R.M. Alte Rassen Ziegen und Schafe 
  https://www.dafne.at/prod/dafne_plus_common/attachment_download/e26bf45d93a3e8b442b534e105dc90d6/1148_Kl_Wiederkauer.pdf
 
All internet references last accessed on 24 October 2008.
 
Language Code
German
 
Product of www.genuss-region.at
Yes
 
Regional contact
ARGE Glocknerlamm
Chairman Alex Pichler
9844 Heiligenblut
Hof 72
Phone: 0664/122 18 89
E-Mail: alex.pichler54@gmx.at
www.heiligenblut.at
 
Authors: Mag. Eva Sommer, Dr. Erhard Höbaus
 

24.02.2011, Lebensministerium III/4