History

Anyone wishing to look at the history of the ZAR in detail on the occasion of its 50 year anniversary can download this in pdf format: 50 years of ZAR (2.5 MB, in german).

At the beginning of the 1950’s, the conviction prevailed that the success of work performed by the Austrian cattle breeders depended quite considerably on co-operation beyond the limits of the provinces, associations and breeds. This applies to questions of breeding as well as marketing.

The Braunvieh cattle breeder and at that time Federal Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, ÖkR Franz Thoma (Styria), the Fleckvieh breeder and later deputy provincial governor, ÖkR Johann Blöchl (Upper-Austria), founded the Association at the beginning of 1954, the  Central Working Committee of Austrian Cattle Breeders (ZAR). The first goals set were to represent members’ interests and to solve ongoing questions. To an increasing extent democratically resolved joint means of procedure in the individual provinces and the performance of joint activities became a necessity.

Under the leadership of Huber, Mandorfer, Pollhammer, Gurtner and Sauer, who later became chairmen of the association, a strategy of togetherness and communal understanding was pursued. With ÖkR. Rudolf Pumberger as chairman at that time, the tried and tested policy of consensus was pursued. On the other hand many important and brave steps were taken from a technical and organisational point of view. In November the chairmanship of ZAR was handed over to Anton Wagner from Sonntagberg, Lower-Austria.

The previous managers were Müller, Ebenbauer, Hartmann (1980-1993) and Potucek (1993-2003). As of 1 September 2003 Franz Sturmlechner (MA) has been in charge.
 
 
 
Chronological table


1954  

Foundation of  ZAR  


1955  

Authorisation to use the special seal of the European Committee to ascertain the economic efficiency of milk animals (today the IKLT) 


60s  

Introduction of automated data processing and establishment of punchcard recording centre 


1963  

First breeding value estimates (next generation comparison for milk)  


1967  

Creation and introduction of Austrian-wide clear ear tags


1970  

Handing over of all EDP activities of ZAR to LFRZ  


1975  

ZAR office moves from Lassallestraße to Gumpendorferstraße. Establishment of ZAR’s own EDP group for new establishment of programmes, the maintenance of these and the monitoring of steps taken 


1980  

Introduction of EDP for herd book recording at breeding federations 


1985  

Breeding value estimate: introduction of  BLUP father model for milk   


1992  

Breeding value estimate: introduction of BLUP animal model for milk and persistence 


1995  

Breeding value estimate: introduction of useful life, fertility, calving and meat performance  
Move to Universumstraße 33/8, 1200 Wien.  


1998  

Breeding value estimate; introduction of economic overall breeding value, introduction of cell count and stillbirth/birth rate  


1999/2000  

Change of whole EDP to Rinderdatenverbund (RDV) 


2000  

Beginning of joint breeding value estimate with Germany (Type traits Simmental) Breeding value estimate: introduction of milking performance and breeding value for crossings 


2001  

Establishment of  ZuchtData EDV-Dienstleistungen GmbH 


2002 

Joint breeding value estimate with Germany for all breeds and all characteristics 


2004 

Move to Haus der Tierzucht, Dresdner Straße 89/19, 1200 Vienna