The Right Cow for the Alp
Influence of Dairy Cow Productivity on the Ecosystem, Profitability and Animal Welfare in the Summering Area
The milk yields of modern highly productive dairy cows continue to rise steadily. We investigate the extent to which the energy requirement of these animals is met on alpine pastures and whether less productive animals are economically and ecologically more sustainable in these challenging alpine conditions.
Background
As a result of breeding and diet, dairy cow milk yields have doubled to tripled in the last hundred years. These higher-yielding cows need nutrient-rich, readily available forage to cover their energy requirement for milk production. However, one-third of Switzerland’s agricultural area consists of low-nutrient alpine pastures, many of them with challenging terrain. Not only does this disparity between the elevated requirements of the grazing animals and the scant resources of the pastureland presumably have an adverse effect on animal welfare; it also leads to the collapse of the milk yields of the high-producing animals on the alpine pastures. To offset this economic loss, productive animals are concentrated on the few pastures in the summering area that offer forage of good quality. The resulting overuse causes erosion, eutrophication and weed infestation. On the other hand, less favourable alpine pastures are scarcely used any more, and are subject to shrub encroachment. Both overuse and underuse lead to the loss of pastureland and reduce biodiversity.
The Project
The PeaMaps project investigates which type of cow is best suited to which site conditions (e.g. food supply, slope, grazing) and offers the greatest benefit for animal welfare, the ecosystem and profitability. To determine this, the entire productivity range will be considered: intensive dairy breeds, moderately intensive dual-purpose breeds and extensive dual-purpose breeds.
Objective
The project aims to improve the understanding of how performance breeding impacts both cows in the alpine region and the alpine region itself. It enables us to assess the suitability of different cow types for different site conditions, and through this, to promote animal welfare and sustainable food production on alpine pastures. It aims to develop viable solutions for site-specific use, and to contribute to the preservation of natural resources and the unique biodiversity of alpine pastures.
Project partners
Agroscope, AgroVet Strickhof / ETH Zurich, University of Glasgow, University of Texas
Monitoring group
Experts from practice, extension, breeding, nature conservancy, forage production and administration
Funding
Swiss National Science Foundation, ‘PeaMaps’ project https://data.snf.ch/grants/grant/219655
PeaMaps - «Promoting ecological and economic sustainability and animal welfare by matching cattle productivity and site properties in mountain rangelands»