Characteristics: The term “Sprinzen” comes from their coat, which looks like they are splattered with paint
The Pustertaler Sprinzen are descending from the same-named valley in South and East Tyrol. During the k.u.k monarchy they were among the most popular breeds and were known for a high milk yield and a lot of them were sold to Vienna. After World War I the cattle trade with South Tyrol almost stopped and after WW II the number of cows was reduced to 300. Just a few farmers kept the breed.
In 1985 they were listed as an endangered breed. In 1998 the Pustertaler came back to Austria, in 1999 the conservation program in Austria started. The numbers of Pustertaler cows increased over the years and nowadays they are mostly kept as suckler cows.