Liechtensteiner Weiderinder - Liechtenstein pastured cattle
Liechtenstein's cattle shape the Principality’s scenic beauty and its farming sector. After all, 35% of the agricultural land in Liechtenstein is alpine land, and ruminants are the only farm animals which can turn pastureland that is not suitable for arable farming into valuable food for humans. Moreover, sustainably used grassland sequesters significant amounts of carbon, thus contributing to food security and climate change mitigation.
With the Liechtenstein pastured cattle project, the concept of an agroecologically and ethologically sound pasture-based cattle finishing system is being developed together with dairy farms. The result is a farming system that scores highest points on animal welfare and ecological criteria and is also economically viable: the ethologically sound management of organic pastured cattle for the production of excellent Liechtenstein organic pasture-raised meat.
And this is what the pasture finishing system looks like: Calves are raised on the farm where they were born and ideally should spend their entire lives on that farm, which is ethologically sound and beneficial to the calves' health. Where this is not possible, the cattle are sent to a partner farm. We encourage the use of dual-purpose breeds with a view to keeping dairy cows and their calves on the same farm. This exploits synergies between milk and meat production. In order to spare arable land, the animals are fed only Liechtenstein roughage in summer and winter, no concentrate feed whatsoever and almost no maize. The fact that the animals spend a lot of time out on pasture and lead a life that meets their welfare needs has a positive impact on their health and reduces the use of antibiotics. We also slaughter close to the home farm using stress-free methods and do not engage in live animal transports. The animals end their lives with dignity on their home farm.
The Liechtenstein pastured cattle project is built up through cooperation with four Bionetz pilot farms and other partners. As with the arable farming products, we are creating a regional sales channel for the beef. From slaughtering and processing to sales and food preparation, we produce in Liechtenstein for Liechtenstein in cooperation with processors, traders and consumers.
The end result is a product for which consumers know the history of Liechtenstein's pasture-raised cattle, Liechtenstein’s meadows and pastures are put to optimal sustainable use, and the animals enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Further Information
Contacts
Project team at the Institute of Agroecology
- Stefan Schürmann (Project Leader)
Project team KBA
- Florian Bernardi (Implementation and consulting)
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