"I am my own master, and can arrange my work to please myself and I love working outdoors," says Peter, explaining why he likes being a "Saltner". He is on the go from the early morning. His heavy-duty boots leave tracks in the dewy grass as he goes off in search of a group of calves that he had lost sight of the previous day. He finally sees a spotted calf through his telescope and is reassured: "Many animals quickly form friendship groups and tend to stick together - so when I see one of the group I know that the others are not far away." This makes his work easier, as every day he has to ascertain that all the animals are still there and that none are injured or sick. He knows every animal individually "because no two cows look exactly the same" and he also knows which animal belongs to which farmer. He memorizes all their characteristics when he takes charge of the animals - and they also all have numbers sheared onto their hindquarters. Peter explains that this is important because if an animal has a serious illness or injury, the herdsman must let the owner know as soon as possible. Then either the vet comes or the farmer takes the animal back to the farm.
Peter is often on the move for many hours because the grazing areas for the animals he looks after - known as "Ochsenwald" because in former times only oxen were driven up to the pastures - are spread over an area of more than 150 hectares. This pasture belongs to the municipal district of Castelrotto. The strict "alpine pasture directive" introduced by the Empress Maria Theresia is still in force today. Out of more than 500 farmers in Castelrotto and the surrounding area who once made use of their right to use the municipal pasture, there around 150 who still submit applications to the alpine pasture committee. It is then the job of five farmers to decide according to set criteria who can bring their steers (or "Galtvieh" as they are known locally) - and how many they may bring - to the "Saltner". There are two of these special herdsman working on the alpine pastures.
Peter Sattler believes this procedure still works. "This prevents too many animals from being driven up and destroying the delicate alpine environment," he says.
The sun climbs high in the sky and Peter returns from his rounds. He has also laid out salt, checked the bridles and fixed the fences that the horses keep chewing. "Everybody is healthy and happy," he says with satisfaction and sits down at a table outside the Saltnerhütte inn for a meal with his dog at his feet.
Peter is often on the move for many hours because the grazing areas for the animals he looks after - known as "Ochsenwald" because in former times only oxen were driven up to the pastures - are spread over an area of more than 150 hectares. This pasture belongs to the municipal district of Castelrotto. The strict "alpine pasture directive" introduced by the Empress Maria Theresia is still in force today. Out of more than 500 farmers in Castelrotto and the surrounding area who once made use of their right to use the municipal pasture, there around 150 who still submit applications to the alpine pasture committee. It is then the job of five farmers to decide according to set criteria who can bring their steers (or "Galtvieh" as they are known locally) - and how many they may bring - to the "Saltner". There are two of these special herdsman working on the alpine pastures.
Peter Sattler believes this procedure still works. "This prevents too many animals from being driven up and destroying the delicate alpine environment," he says.
The sun climbs high in the sky and Peter returns from his rounds. He has also laid out salt, checked the bridles and fixed the fences that the horses keep chewing. "Everybody is healthy and happy," he says with satisfaction and sits down at a table outside the Saltnerhütte inn for a meal with his dog at his feet.
