Swiss Agricultural Research – Archive of the Online Journal

People and artificial intelligence (AI) detect reproducible patterns in pig vocalizations, especially during acute distress. Yet an isolated sound rarely reveals the exact situation or whether a pig feels positive or negative.

ETH Zurich

Animal production 11.08.26

Is it possible to prepare cattle at home in a way that reduces their stress at the slaughterhouse? In a comparison, prepared animals showed lower cortisol levels during slaughter than control animals.

FiBL

Animal production 09.07.26

As food waste rises globally, the agricultural sector is faced with balancing livestock feed production and sustainable food systems. FiBL explored the benefits of adding vegetable and fruit scraps to a pig diet to improve animal welfare and resource optimization.

FiBL

Animal production 24.06.26

A further reduction in the crude protein content of pig feed is challenging, but possible. This study shows that nitrogen utilisation efficiency can be improved and emissions reduced without compromising performance or meat quality.

BFH-HAFL

Animal production 19.05.26

After calving, dairy cows often have an energy deficit and mobilise body fat, with consequences for health, animal welfare and performance. Agroscope researchers have now shown that cows’ energy status can also be measured from exhaled air.

Agroscope, University of Hohenheim, University of Milan

Agricultural economics 11.03.26

Goats may be appealing, but very few goat farmers can make money from them. Dairy goats become economically viable only when annual milk production reaches at least 100 tonnes, which equates to around 120 to 180 dairy goats, depending on yield.

Agroscope

Animal production 03.02.26

A recent Agroscope study highlights the potential of Highland cattle to control the spread of green alder and restore plant diversity on mountain pastures.

Agroscope, University of Turin

Animal production 15.12.25

Grazing represents a sustainable option for rearing dairy male calves. Specifically, grazing strengthens immune function, while high-elevation pastures improve haemoglobin levels and red blood cell counts.

FiBL

Animal production 21.08.25

Livestock husbandry poses challenges in determining odour impacts due to the heterogeneity and spatial extent of its odour sources. Agroscope and Empa have refined a method using trained assessors and validated it with tracer gases.

Agroscope, EMPA

Animal production 15.05.25

How to verify grassland-based feeding? An approach based on machine learning and milk mid-infrared (MIR) spectra acquired from routine milk quality testing may be the answer.

BFH-HAFL, ETH Zurich, Utrecht University

Animal production 06.05.25

Standard values for livestock feed intake and excretion are essential for proper farm fertilisation planning and assessment of the farm’s nutrient balance. Agroscope adjusted the standard values for goats with the aim of improving nutrient-flow assessment.

Agroscope

Animal production 24.04.25

Commercial poultry farming has grown considerably in recent years. This study aims to analyse its protein supply and identify potential for optimising phosphorus utilisation and feed efficiency.

BFH-HAFL, Aviforum

Animal production 22.04.25

Standard values for livestock feed intake and excretion are essential for proper farm fertilisation planning and assessment of the farm’s nutrient balance. Agroscope adjusted the standard values for sheep with the aim of improving nutrient-flow assessment.

Agroscope

Food 17.04.25

The influence of horn status and the genetic variant of the (A1/A2) β-Casein milk protein on milk quality and digestion is the subject of much debate. This study shows that the milk of cows with a genetic difference in β-Casein is digested slightly differently in the human stomach, but that horn status has no effect in this regard.

Agroscope, FiBL, Qualitas AG, 6300 Zug

Animal production 08.04.25

Piglets which as fetuses suffered from growth restriction in the uterus have lower birth weights and higher mortality. Postpartum targeted feeding enables improved development and weight gain.

Agroscope, UFA AG

Animal production 13.03.25

Meat quality is influenced by many animal-related factors. An Agroscope study shows that intensive grazing on smaller paddocks with a corresponding frequent change of paddocks and contact with humans is positively associated with meat quality.

Agroscope

Animal production 17.02.25

For the milk production systems in Switzerland, the weights of the traits in the total breeding value are derived using a new method that takes into account not only the revenue but also the direct costs.

BFH-HAFL

Food 12.02.25

The results of the 2023 beef quality survey have been released. They show that the quality of Swiss meat overall is highly satisfactory, in terms of nutrition as well as technological and sensorial aspects.

Agroscope, Proviande

Animal production 30.01.25

The green alder encroachment of summer pastures reduces biodiversity, forage quality, and landscape attractiveness. Goat grazing can help limit this process and restore pasture vegetation.

Agroscope, ESA, Angers

Animal production 16.10.24

The genotype information of over 1,000 horses reveals that the Franches-Montagnes can be distinguished from other historically introgressed breeds. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated, that this kind of information can also be applied to manage the inbreeding within the population.

Agroscope, University of Zurich, ISME, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, INRAE, University of Sydney

Animal production 04.10.24

Alpine pastures provide forage for cattle, storage for CO2, food for pollinators, a habitat for countless plants, and fascinate us with their beauty. The extent to which these services are provided depends on location, climate – and cows.

Agroscope

Animal production 26.09.24

A current overview of paratuberculosis describes this chronic disease of cattle, shows how it is being controlled internationally and in Switzerland, and explains why this is important.

Agroscope, Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), University of Bern

Animal production 07.08.24

Fast and safe three-dimensional (3D) imaging technology gives good in vivo estimates of body and carcass chemical composition in growing beef cattle.

Agroscope, INRAE, 3D Ouest

Agricultural economics 20.06.24

A study conducted across five European countries has identified the attributes that are important to consumers buying meat and dairy products. The researchers also investigated whether sustainability labels were perceived as helpful.

Agroscope

Animal production 29.05.24

Dual-purpose chicken play some role in Swiss organic agriculture. Their feed efficiency is a challenge, though. Would it help to use more extensive and fibre-rich feed for such genotypes?

FiBL

Animal production 15.04.24

Heurtault J., Hiscocks S., Létourneau-Montminy M.P, Schlegel P.

Sows mobilise body reserves of phosphorus during lactation and replenish these reserves during gestation. Considering this dynamic allows us to envisage a reduction in dietary intake of phosphorus during lactation, and hence, of excretion into the environment.

Agroscope, University of Laval, AB Vista

Animal production 14.03.24

Scheurer A., Dörig C. A., Braillard M., Purtschert L., Keil N.

Professionally managed dairy sheep and dairy goat farms are increasingly using mixed rations. The composition of rations fed in practice and the resulting milk yield potential were analysed.

BFH-HAFL, Agroscope

Agricultural economics 12.03.24

Ammann J., Mack G., Irek J., Finger R., El Benni N.

Agroscope researchers conducted an online survey to investigate the attitudes of Swiss consumers to agricultural policy goals in all three language regions. The results should help better shape agricultural policy.

Agroscope, ETH Zurich

Animal production 21.02.24

Manzocchi E., Huguenin-Elie O., Probo M., Wyss U.

While botanical composition, growth cycle and phenological stage are integral factors, they are not the sole determinants of the quality of grass silages from intensively managed permanent meadows.

Agroscope

Animal production 05.02.24

Mazzoleni S., Tretola M., Luciano A., Lin P., Pinotti L., Bee G.

Food that is unsuitable for human consumption does not affect the growth performance or carcass composition of pigs to which it is fed. This makes it a promising solution for reducing food waste.

Agroscope, University of Milan

Archive

Can people hear how a pig feels?

Preparing Cattle at Home: Less Stress during Slaughter

Diversification of Organic Pig Feed with Vegetable and Fruit Scraps

Further Potential for Reducing Crude Protein Content in Pig Fattening

Sampling Exhaled Air Instead of Blood: New Method for Measuring Energy Status of Dairy Cows

How Profitable Is Swiss Goat Milk Production?

Targeted Grazing by Highland Cattle: Less Green Alder, More Plant Biodiversity

Grazing Improves Immune Parameters and Complete Blood Count in Calves

Can Odour Impacts Be Reliably Determined by Assessors?

Milk MIR Spectra and Machine Learning to Verify Herbage Proportion in Dairy Herd Diets

Goat Husbandry: Standard Values for Feed Intake and Nutrient Excretion Adjusted

Crude Protein and Phosphorus Levels in Poultry Feed – a Key to High Resource Efficiency

Sheep Husbandry: Feed Intake and Nutrient Excretion Guidelines Adjusted

A1/A2 Genetic Background of Cows, But Not Their Horn Status, Influences Milk Protein Digestion

Supplementary Feed for Piglets with Prenatal Growth Retardation

Contact with Humans and Grazing Intensity Influence Meat Quality in Beef Heifers

Economic Optimisation of Dairy Cattle Breeding

Quality of Swiss Beef Confirmed by 2023 Survey

Green Alder Encroachment Control: Combining Mechanical Clearing with Goat Grazing

The DNA of Franches-Montagnes Horses Reveals the Origin of the Breed

It’s Not All About Cheese: Cows and Hikers are Not the Only Ones to Benefit from Alpine Pastures

Paratuberculosis in Cattle: International Evolution and Situation in Switzerland

Using 3D Imaging to Optimise the Diet of Growing Cattle

Consumers Prioritise Animal Welfare over Environmental Sustainability

Roughage Components in Nutrition of Layers – Does it Make Sense for Dual-Purpose Poultry?

Dynamics of Bone Mineralisation in Sows and Phosphorus Excretion

Forage-Based Mixed Rations for Dairy Sheep and Dairy Goats in Practice

Consumers See Animal Welfare as a Key Agricultural Policy Goal

Quality of Silages from Intensively Managed Permanent Meadows

Using Former Food Products as Pig Feed Reduces Food Waste