Optimal conditions for high-quality meat
Switzerland offers the ideal conditions for farmers and meat producers to work with their animals’ welfare and the environment in mind. The country is optimally located for livestock farming, providing farmers with the natural resources they need to give animals the species-appropriate care. On top of this, stringent laws and regulations ensure that high animal welfare and food safety standards are met.
SUSTAINABLE LAND USE
A little more than two thirds of Switzerland’s agricultural land consists of green spaces used for livestock farming. These areas are often too steep or too high up to be used for farming crops or growing fruit. Ruminants, however, can use the roughage found in the meadows and alpine pastures as a source of food – from which high-quality foodstuffs such as milk, cheese and meat are produced.
LOW FRESHWATER CONSUMPTION
Switzerland enjoys high rainfall, which ensures its meadows and pastures require very little artificial irrigation. While agriculture is responsible for around 70% of total freshwater consumption worldwide, it only accounts for 2% of consumption in Switzerland.
SPECIES-TAILORED DIETS
Swiss livestock are fed strictly controlled, environmentally friendly and species-tailored. Ruminants, for example, eat a diet consisting of 80% roughage – such as grass and hay – and comparatively little concentrated feed. Their feed is free from genetically modified organisms and meat as well as bone meal. The use of hormones and antibiotics to stimulate growth has been prohibited in Switzerland for over 20 years.
LOW QUANTITIES OF IMPORTED FEED
Switzerland produces 83.7% of its animal feed itself. Soya is the main imported ingredient, 96% of which is obtained from certified sustainable production processes. Soya is used as a protein component in feed.
STRINGENT ANIMAL WELFARE LAW
Switzerland has one of the most stringent animal welfare laws in the world. It guarantees that animals receive feed appropriate to their species and are kept in the best possible conditions. It also stipulates that animal transportation times in Switzerland must not exceed 6 hours, whereas in the EU pigs, for example, can remain in transportation for up to 24 hours.
ANIMAL WELFARE
The majority of Swiss farms take part in the RAUS and BTS voluntary programmes for animal welfare. BTS: The BTS programme, which aims to ensure particularly animal-friendly housing systems, serves to further enhance animal welfare standards, as its requirements go above and beyond those contained in the legislation in force. 58% of Swiss livestock benefit from the BTS programme (as at 2019). RAUS: Just like us, animals also like being outdoors. That’s why the RAUS programme stipulates that pigs and cows have access to a paved outdoor area. This means that pigs, for example, also have a larger overall area to live in. 86.4% of Swiss farms take part in this voluntary programme (as at 2019).
FOOD SAFETY
An important indication of the quality of meat from Switzerland is that it can be traced from farm to slaughterhouse to shop counter. This is made possible by comprehensive labelling and detailed accompanying documentation. Thanks to this system, any illnesses in the animals can be quickly detected and then contained and tackled in a targeted manner. Switzerland is largely free of highly infectious animal diseases.
