Where did all the cows go?

I know it's a bit random when I'm in the middle of an educational study tour but as a 4th generation member of a cattle farming family I couldn't help but wonder. Where did all the cattle go? 

There is lots of evidence of cattle around Dornbirn - pastures, silage, hay and cattle yards but no cattle!

Hubert from the VET college at Bregenz-Reidenburg explained the mystery to me. He knew this because he rents a farmer's high country cottage for the summer holidays.

The cattle spend winter in the low country around Dorbirn where they can be sheltered in sheds if required plus have access to hay and silage when the pastures are covered in snow.

As the spring and summer progress they move the cattle up into higher pastures to take advantage of the fresh green pastures. They continue the process to higher and higher pastures as the seasons change.

The low country around Dornbirn dries off to hay first so they cut this for silage and hay throughout summer.

In the Autumn and Spring they reverse the process and bring the cattle lower.

Farmers make a side income by renting out their high country cottages to people for the summer holidays.

Mystery solved, it also explains why the practice continued around Tumut where there was a long tradition of High Country cattle drives and high country leases around Kiandra.

The VET college I visited at Bregenz Reidenburg trains the mechanics who service the tractors and farming equipment.