Swiss Agricultural Research – Archive of the Online Journal

Weber R., Burla J.-B., Jossen M., Wechsler B.

Since 2007, only free-farrowing pens may be used in Switzerland. Since then, litter size has increased significantly. Despite this, piglet mortality during the lactation period has remained stable over the years.

Agroscope

Agricultural economics 12.03.20

Zorn A.

The number of farms with a minimum area of 30 ha is growing, and specialisation – particularly in animal production – is on the increase. Even so, structural change is proceeding at a slower pace in Switzerland than in neighbouring countries.

Agroscope

Animal production 18.02.20

Ollagnier C. and Pradervand N.

Alternatives to antibiotics must be found to combat antibiotic resistance in animal production. The forage plant sainfoin reduces postweaning diarrhoea in piglets, thus reducing the need for antibiotic treatment.

Agroscope

Animal production 13.02.20

Schori F.

Grazing dairy cows is a characteristic feature of Swiss agriculture. In order to use pasture efficiently, the estimation of herbage mass is recommended. Agroscope compared two methods and developed estimation formulas for implementation in practice.

Agroscope

Food 03.02.20

Oehen B., Meier C. and Felder T.

The term ‘agrobiodiversity’ refers to the variety of plant cultivars and species that feature in the human diet. A study in four European countries shows that consumers are interested in this diversity. The genetic diversity of food-crop varieties and species is archived in state gene banks, and continues to serve as a starting point for…

FiBL

Plant production 30.01.20

Breitenmoser S., Steinger Th., Hiltpold I., Grosjean Y., Nussbaum V., Bussereau F., Klötzli F., Widmer N. and Baux A.

Sowing oilseed rape with other plants reduces damage caused by adult flea beetle, according to a study conducted at Agroscope. This intercropping approach could limit reliance on insecticides and the emergence of resistant pests.

Agroscope

Plant production 21.01.20

Kempf K., Schubiger F.X., Tanner P. and Grieder Ch.

Adapted, productive grass cultivars are crucial for Swiss forage production. Over the past 30 years, the most important grass species – perennial ryegrass – has been substantially improved by breeding.

Agroscope

Animal production 21.01.20

Schlegel P., Willi C., Vollenweider O. and Morel I.

Farms operate with a balanced nutrient cycle. Agroscope has adjusted beef-cattle reference values to the latest advances in animal production. The said values can be used for fertilisation planning and are to be used for the assessment of the farm- based nutrient cycle.

Agroscope

Food 21.01.20

Lüdin P., Bachmann H.-P. and Baumeyer-Brahier A.

To protect Swiss cheeses from counterfeiting, Agroscope has developed marker cultures from lactic acid bacteria that allow the origins of the cheese to be determined. Proof-of-origin cultures for extra-hard cheeses are now also available.

Agroscope

Archive

Excellent Performance with Larger Litters in Free-Farrowing Pens

Swiss Farms: Ever-Increasing Size and Specialisation

Fighting Antibiotic Resistance: a Plant to Reduce Diarrhoea in Piglets

Estimating Herbage Mass to Make Optimal Use of Pastures

There is a Market for Agrobiodiversity

Companion Planting in Oilseed Rape to Control Adult Flea Beetle

Higher Yielding, More Resistant Cultivars of Main Swiss Forage Grass

Manure: How Much Nutrients Excreted by Beef Cattle?

Counterfeiting now also Detectable in Extra-Hard Cheeses