The effects of Swiss dairy production systems with barn and pasture systems on production efficiency, the environment, animal welfare, antibiotic use and holistic sustainability

Grassland covers approximately 80% of the agriculturally utilised area in Switzerland. In order for the land to be used and maintained for the production of high-quality food, the utilisation of forage by ruminants is essential. Milk production is not only of high economic significance for Switzerland’s farming sector, but also an important part of the country‘s cultural identity.

Agricultural structural change does not bypass dairying. For years now, dairy farms have steadily been increasing in size, output and farming intensity. It is for this very reason that the increasing intensification raises questions as to its sustainability and its benefits in terms of long-term effects. In this context, two divergent milk production strategies are emerging: Continuously housed systems with high milk yields per cow based on grass, maize silage and concentrate feeds vs. pasture-based systems with moderate milk yields based on a grass-based ration and limited concentrate feed. Both production systems have their respective strengths and weaknesses. 

Together with the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (HAFL) and Wageningen University, the Institute of Agroecology therefore launched a project to investigate the two production strategies. As part of a PhD thesis, the strengths and challenges of the two contrasting dairying systems will be analysed and evaluated, with a focus on environmental impacts and animal welfare. Particular attention will also be paid to the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

In order to identify and understand the strengths and trade-offs associated with the two dairy production systems, a practical sustainability assessment is needed. Therefore, the project will survey holistic sustainability on all farms. Newly developed methods will be applied and validated as part of this work with a view to paving the way for a holistic sustainability assessment of Swiss dairy production. 

The doctoral thesis shall lay important foundations for the efficient use of limited resources in the dairy sector and to give recommendations for the further optimisation of the different dairy production strategies.

Further Information

Contacts

Project team at the Institute of Agroecology 

• Judith Riedel (Project management at the Institute of Agroecology , Scientific co-supervision)
• Christine Flury (scientific Associate)

Project team HAFL  

• Janine Braun (Doktorandin)  
• Beat Reidy (Project management HAFL, Scientific co-supervision)  

Projectteam University Wageningen  

• Eddy Bokkers (Project management Uni. Wageningen, Scientific supervision) 

Weblinks  

• Forschungsbereich Graslandnutzung und Wiederkäuersysteme (HAFL) 
• Animal Production Systems Group (Wageningen)