Healthy diet for good meat: Swiss cows eat almost exclusively Swiss feed

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The figures on how much feed cows and other livestock such as sheep and goats, and sometimes pigs, eat are impressive: they consume around 30 million tonnes of feed every year. Three quarters of this consists of roughage such as grass and hay. 95 percent of this comes from Swiss pastures, meadows or forage production in the valley region, as the Swiss Farmers’ Union puts it in its focus magazine: “That’s what the cows, pigs and their friends eat.” he is writing.

Most of the few imports come from Europe

A small portion of imported feed consists mainly of feed grain, as well as soybean, rapeseed and sunflower meal, but also roughage such as alfalfa. More than 80 percent of imports come from Europe, while shares from South America and Asia are falling year on year.

According to the farmers’ union, the share of soybean meal from Brazil has fallen significantly, while Europe’s share has increased from 0 percent to more than 50 percent in the last decade. “Swiss agriculture is aware of the problematic deforestation of rainforests when importing soybean meal and is looking for alternatives in Europe,” writes Focus magazine. Additionally, approximately 99 percent of those coming from abroad come from certified agriculture. Ecological and social requirements must be complied with.

Unique global standards also apply to imported feed in Switzerland: Swiss farmers avoid using genetically modified feed or feed containing hormones or artificial performance enhancers.

Even more Switzerland – is it possible?

There is even more Switzerland in products bearing the IGP quality mark: Raw materials cannot come from abroad and therefore only come from Switzerland. Why is production in Switzerland important, especially when it comes to meat?

When it comes to meat, buying meat, whether privately or as a restaurant owner, can make a big difference: buying locally not only benefits the local industry, it also means you are consciously choosing Swiss animal welfare standards. The way cattle feed is very different from abroad. Switzerland continues a tradition based on small businesses and manageable production. Tradition is found not only in products such as Valais jerky IGP, but also in the way animals are raised.

Source : Blick