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Center for Draft Cattle Research & Education

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Center for Draft Cattle Research & Education

March 8-9, 2024 (Lorsch, Germany) - Cattle traction as part of a sustainable future

Following the great success of the Virtual World Draft Animal Congress ("Draft Animals in the Past, Present and Future) in 2021, the World Draft Cattle Symposium will be held in Lorsch (Germany) from March 8-9, 2024. The aim of the symposium is to provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary overview of the current state of research and knowledge on the subject of cattle traction (both with bulls

, steers and cows) in agriculture, transportation, water supply and crop processing. At the same time, important new concepts on the future importance of draft cattle as working animals in a global context and as part of a sustainable future will be discussed. The conference will be divided into a conference day of oral and poster presentations and a hands-on workshop day that will culminate in the premiere of a fascinating new museum exhibit on the cultural history of the yoke worldwide. The workshop day will provide conference participants with practical insights into the various aspects of working with cattle, including different harness systems, training methods or machinery, but also in relation to the manufacture of claw irons or yokes and collars. The conference will be followed by a Large Field Day on March 10 with different draft animal demonstrations. The March 8th papers and presentations will be presented either live or digital. This Facebook-Page serves the purpose of informing about the conference, the conference theme and how to participate

18/02/2026

Book Launch!
Draft Cattle: their history, significance and value with a global perspective
Proceedings of the World Draft Cattle Symposium (March 8-9, 2024)

In 2024, more than 126 scientists, museum professionals as well as draft cattle practitioners gathered at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Lorsch Abbey for the first World Draft Cattle Symposium. Today we are happy to announce the publication of the proceedings of this extraordinary gathering. The proceedings provide a comprehensive overview of the conference results and gives a deep insight into the history, significance and value of draft cattle with a global perspective.
The publication can be viewed and downloaded free of charge online at the following address:

https://doi.org/10.11588/propylaeum.1713

The Print-Version will be available soon. Let me know if you are interested.

Spread the word!

11/06/2025

Draft Cattle Center welcomes International Fellows

Over the past two weeks, two international fellows have been welcomed to the Center for Draft Cattle Research & Education, which is part of the Lauresham Open-Air Laboratory in Germany.

Tautvilė Šukytė, a veterinarian who is currently doing a PhD in biology, travelled all the way from Lithuania. She is one of the few people still working with draft cattle in the Baltic region. As part of her stay, she was able to study the various methods of harnessing and training methods in depth and, last but not least, contribute her expertise in the field of cattle behaviour.

Just one day after her departure, we welcomed Rob Collins from the USA. Rob is a book author, social studies teacher at a high school, has two teams of cattle himself and has been training people to work with draft cattle for almost 20 years with the organisation Tillers International. As an expert in the so-called bow yoke, the centre therefore organised a small workshop with him last Sunday with representatives of the German draft cattle community. The participants were able to familiarise themselves intensively with working with the double yoke on one of the open-air laboratory's teams and there was an intensive exchange of experiences.

The center will be welcoming the next scholarship holders next month.

Are you interested in working with draft cattle yourself? Then get in touch with us!

08/02/2025

A repository of knowledge to discover!

Did you know that our Center for Draft Cattle Research and Training has a multilingual specialist library and its own image archive on the subject of cattle traction? Guests and fellows of the Center can browse, research and learn from the more than 150 books at any time. In addition, the image database offers deep insights into historical harnessing methods, regional traditions and implements.

We look forward to your visit!

Donations for the library and the image archive are always welcome!

If you have any questions, please visit our website or contact us under: [email protected]

https://kloster-lorsch.de/en/freilichtlabor-lauresham-laboratory-for-experimental-archaeology/center-for-draft-cattle-research-and-education/

Pictures: SG; HKV Lorsch

06/02/2025

Every year, the Center for Draft Cattle Research and Education (in 64653 Lorsch, Germany) offers an internship of up to two weeks. Experts and practitioners from Germany and abroad have the opportunity to work intensively with a total of seven trained draft cattle at the open-air laboratory, to use the center's extensive specialist library and to study the extensive harness and yoke collection.

What does the scholarship cover?
The scholarship includes a total travel subsidy of EUR 500 and free accommodation in the center's guest room. A kitchen and bathroom are also available there.

How do I apply?
Please send your application documents to [email protected] by February 28. These should consist of a letter of motivation and a CV.

We look forward to receiving your application!
For information and questions about the internship, please contact Claus Kropp ([email protected])

21/11/2024

Successful Draft Cattle Trials

The draft suitability tests and draft performance tests organized and carried out by the Centre for Draft Cattle Research and Education last Saturday were a success.
Not only were around 200 interested people present as spectators during the day of the event, but the cattle also successfully passed all the tests.

In the coming year, the repertoire of tests is to be significantly expanded and the team has already begun to further improve the test regulations based on the experience of this first test in 75 years.
A good day for draft cattle and old livestock breeds in Germany, but also a good day for draft cattle people worldwide!

13/11/2024

In order to bring the work with draft cattle back into focus at a national level and to develop common quality standards, a draft suitability and draft performance test for working cattle will take place in Germany on November 16, 2024 for the first time in over 75 years. Between 10:00 and approx. 16:00, cattle from four federal states will be tested opposite the visitor information center on this day for their pulling skills, skill and obedience and evaluated by a jury of several members. It is also worth mentioning that many of the working cattle still in use today belong to old and endangered livestock breeds and six of these breeds will be represented at the tests.
For this reason, the event will be accompanied by a range of different information and sales stands, including from the WIR in Lorsch project, which markets regional products that have been produced with the help of animal traction and in some cases in a climate-neutral way. Participation in the event is free of charge for spectators.

30/10/2024

The Center for Draft Cattle Research and Education is offering internships on site for a deep dive into the world of draft cattle training and work. Currently, Benjamin Kampfhammer, a german farmer, is spending an intense week at the Center. He is residing in the center-own guestroom with library and is working with our teams on the field but also performing other tasks. He had the chance to plow, harrow, to work the cattle from behind but also to see how he can develop a draft-cattle involvement at his own work-place. Finally, it is a great atmosphere of learning from each other as Benjamin can also share and teach us a lot of his own skills in return.

Are you interested in spending some time at the Draft Cattle Center? We are looking forward reading from you!

10/10/2024

Announcement:

On November 16, 2024, a draft suitability (Zugeignungs-) and draft performance (Zugleistungs-) test for cattle will take place in Germany for the first time in over half a century.
With this event, the center would like to make an attempt to bring the working performance of cattle back into focus, to professionalize the work with draft cattle more both domestically and internationally, to determine quality standards and, in the medium and long term, possibly also to achieve greater consideration of working performance in breeding work, especially when it comes to the old three-purpose breeds.
The interested public is explicitly invited to attend as observers.

The testing grounds are located on a public road (Im Klosterfeld, 64653 Lorsch) and there will also be various information stands to enrich the day.

For more information: [email protected]

Adresse

Lorsch
64653

Webseite

https://kloster-lorsch.de/freilichtlabor/tagungen/world-draft-cattle-symposium

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