Shepherdesses revive tradition

This post is also available in: Deutsch Italiano

The four speakers at the conference “Shepherdesses in the Alps – Insights into the Pastoralism” on November 5 agreed that Pastoralism is a challenging but also fulfilling profession. The work of a shepherdess or shepherd protects the animals and brings numerous other benefits: Falls are prevented, diseases are taken care of and the alpine pastures are optimally grazed through managed grazing. This in turn increases the health of the soil, prevents erosion and maintains biodiversity. A recurring theme, however, was the difficulty in finding workers and training opportunities, as well as the lack of adequate support from politicians. Hence the shepherds’ demands: fair pay and financial support for the employment of qualified shepherds, as well as for the purchase of additional herd protection equipment.

Four shepherdesses, four stories, four working models

After a brief introduction to the project and the essential role of shepherds as a herd protection element, four shepherds from Austria, South Tyrol and Germany reported in detail on their experiences on the mountain pastures and answered many questions from the more than 200 participants. What stood out: although all the speakers work with grazing animals on mountain pastures, the available means and approaches are very different.

Anna Huber, a career changer, described her experiences during an eventful summer on the Hochwipfelalm in Carinthia and how she had to contend with wind, weather and lightning strikes. Barbara Crea then spoke about the revitalization of traditional agriculture in Lessinia and the use of livestock guarding dogs. Astrid Summerer joined us directly from the transhumance in Friuli, where she moves from pasture to pasture throughout the year with her colleagues and dogs. Christina Ziegerhofer concluded with the presentation of a project that combines tourism and herding on the Hauser Kaibling and also makes use of paddocks.

Did you miss the conference?

No problem! If you were unable to attend the conference but are still interested in the experiences of the shepherdesses, you can watch the recording in the original language. The interview with Astrid Summerer is also available here. You can also download the presentations and the questions and answers asked during the conference:

Positive feedback

Many thanks to all participants who took the time to fill out our survey!

Thank you for this meeting, there are too few of them. Andrea D.

Thank you very much for your great work! I would be very happy to take part in webinars again in the future. I would also be interested in volunteering at livestock protection. Astrid K.

Many thanks for the great work and the regular very good events. Ingeborg T.

Thank you very much for your commitment – we are already networked and look forward to more exchange and cooperation! Alexandra H.

I already have a newsletter, it’s good when women’s power leads the way, especially in Austria. Frank L.

Thank you for highlighting this very interesting work in livestock and in the women who support this work. Showing young people, and women in particular, about the work and possible careers in this work is exciting to me. As in Europe, there are fewer people working in agriculture as in the US due to the pay, long hours, and isolation from technology and comforts. I think highlighting WHY this work is important is something I’m sure the LifeStockProtect organization is probably working towards. The timing for me was very good even in the western US (early 6 am start) but still doable! Karen B.

Well done, congratulations on presenting this topic in a technically correct way and on having given it a useful application in the discussion about the wolf. Karl W.

Very good project, great impressions of Pastoralism, some of which I was not yet aware of. Saskia B.

A contrasting view of the shepherdess world. Four interesting, exciting presentations/short portraits. I am very familiar with the topic in general because I have been working as a herdsman myself at Shepherd for 26 alpine summers. In the debates, the theories usually gloss over the fact that the alpine pasture environment is always a matter of individuality. Ultimately, no alpine pasture, no region, no pastoral culture can be compared 1:1 with another, but is very, very individual. This also applies to all shepherds, several of whom I know, each with their own story, even though they are supposedly involved in the same activities. The four different shepherds who presented their stories confirm this. I think it’s good when more and more practical thinking comes into the subject. In addition to the four people portrayed today, I found Julia Ramsauer’s introduction particularly worth mentioning, as it pointed strongly in the direction of practical approaches. Thank you very much! Peter G.

The selection of the different shepherdesses in their different life and work situations was very successful. I would be happy to take part in another webinar. Sibylle E.

Good and important work with an interesting program and exciting people. Antje F.

Thanks to all the speakers and the authentic insight into their professional experience. Max D.