Switzerland is a grassland country. On around 70% of the utilised agricultural area, arable farming is not possible. The grass from the meadows can be processed into dairy and meat products thanks to grazing animals.
Suckler-cow farms analysed
Grass-based beef production is less productive than intensive year-round indoor-housing system-based production. Together with 42 farms, Agroscope has therefore analysed the yields and production costs of suckler-cow farms. The analysis enabled optimisation options to be identified that could reduce costs and improve income on the farm. These include economic measures such as the purchase of additional calves, but also ecological measures such as the creation of biodiversity promotion areas, which generate direct payments.
