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Food

Bosset J.O., Berger T., Bütikofer U., Collomb M., Gauch R., Lavanchy P., Sieber R., Jeangros B.

Comparison of Swiss hard cheese Gruyère-type produced in highland and lowland

This study compares the specificity and characteristics of two Swiss hard (Gruyère) cheese varieties manufactured at different altitudes: i) L’Etivaz cheese manufactured at L’Etivaz with 2 production sites (L’Etivaz 1 & I’Etivaz 2, 1300-2100 m), ii) Gruyère cheese manufactured Montbovon (1000 m) and at Grangeneuve/Posieux (600 m). These four production sites were studied during the…
Plant production

Meisser M., Wyss U.

The influence of weather conditions on growth, maturation and nutritive value of silage maize

For 20 consecutive years, the maize cultivar LG 11 has been serving as reference variety at the Federal Research Station for Animal Production (RAP). The collected data and observations provided an appropriate basis to investigate the influence of weather conditions on growth and development of this variety.<br>The Temperature sum (basis 6°C) for the time interval…
Plant production

Boller B.

New cultivars of hybrid ryegrass: Antilope, Dorcas and Redunca

Three new Swiss cultivars of hybrid ryegrass (Lolium x boucheanum) have been released recently: Antilope, Dorcas and Redunca. These tetraploid cultivars originate either from crosses between Italian and perennial ryegrass at the diploid level, followed by a colchicine treatment, or from crosses between tetraploid parents. All three cultivars consistently outyield Gazella, the previously most used…
Animal production

Wechsler B., Oester H.

The Swiss authorisation procedure for the sale of housing systems for farm animals

In 1981 an authorisation procedure for the sale of housing systems for farm animals was introduced in Switzerland. Authorisation shall only be granted if such systems provide proper living conditions for the animals. Requests for authorisations are handled at the two Centres for Proper Housing in Animal Production of the Swiss Federal Veterinary Office, which…
Agricultural economics

Lehmann H.-J., Heinzer C., Waldner R.

Landscape concept Switzerland – sustainable use of rural spaces

Since time immemorial biodiversity has formed the basis of agricultural production and thus ensured food supplies for the population. As a rule, however, management plans for these resources are not sufficiently far-reaching to ensure the genetic diversity of food crops. In order to maintain these important resources major efforts have been made over the past…
Agricultural economics

Freyer B.

Poll on an ecologically beneficial agriculture in the cantons of Basle (Switzerland)

The results of this socioeconomic investigation on agriculture, covering various branches of research on the situation and the future perspectives on methods in production respecting environment, are based on data collected in the region of Basle. The main points investigated in these written interviews were: the situation of information on methods used in agriculture respecting…
Plant production

Dietl W.

Important plant communities and plant species of alpine pastures

The changing natural conditions such as water and nutrient supply, temperature and the various intensities of grazing enable many plant species to grow and numerous plant communities to establish. The following types of pastures were distinguished: High yielding, carefully utilized fertile pastures of the vegetation types Cynosurion, Poion alpinae. Low yielding, poor pastures on acid…
Animal production

Walser P., Pfirter P.

Influence of feed structure and composition on feeding pattern in laying hens

Feed characteristics can influence behaviour in laying hens. Twelve hens (ISA-Brown, 56th to 68t th week of age) were used to analyse feeding patterns. Three diets, different in structure (fine vs. coarse particle size distribution) and composition (isoenergetic replacement of starch by fibre and fat) were tested. Diurnal distributions of number, size and duration of…
Animal production

Schmid I., Wechsler B.

Ethological bases for species appropriate housing of japanese quails

Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) kept for egg and meat production are typically housed in battery cages. In such intensive systems several welfare problems occur. Part of the results of a research project that aimed at developing an alternative housing system are presented. Groups of eight to nine quails were observed in Semi-natural outdoor aviaries. The…
Animal production

Kessler J., de Faria A.

The effect of an organic trace element supplement on metabolic parameters, milk yield and milk composition of dairy cows

In a trial with 2 x 3 lactating cows, the effect of an organic (ORG) trace element supplement (BIOPLEX Cu, Mn, Zn and SEL-PLEX*) on performance and selected metabolic parameters was investigated in comparison to inorganic sources (INORG). Cu sulfate, Mn oxide, Zn oxide and Na selenite served as inorganic trace element sources. The experimental…
Food

Künsch U., Schärer H., Hurter J., Konrad P., Kressebuch B., Jelmini G., Chettrini S.

Calcium content of broccoli and kale: influence of the production method

A daily supply of 800 to 1200 mg Calcium in adolescence is crucial to prevent osteoporosis in the adult. Vegetarians are dependent on calcium rich vegetables. Recent research data indicate that the bioavailability of calcium from broccoli and kale is almost identical to that of milk. In our experiments broccoli and kale were grown in…
Food

Bachmann H.-P.

Lipolysis in cheese: not too much – not too little

Propionibacteria are playing a key role in the lipolysis of Swiss-type cheeses. The statistical evaluation of datas collected from 30 commercial Emmental cheeses produced with two different propionibacteria cultures allowed to show, that lipolysis increases the intensity of the flavour. It was concluded that the weaker lipolysis in the cheeses with one of the two…
Environment

Schaffner D., Keller S.M., Fried P.M.

Natural revegetation of set aside fields on fertile arable soils

Two set-aside plots were established by natural revegetation and by sowing a wildflower seed mixture at each of 13 sites on fertile arable soils of the Swiss plateau.<br>The objectives were to investigate whether species rich plant communities would develop on naturally revegetated fertile arable soils and whether problem weeds such as Cirsium arvense and Rumex…
Environment

Jossi W., Dubois D.

Yield loss by potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say and threshold value Effect of the soil separation technique in potato fields on earthworm population

“The injury caused by potato beetles is the defoliation of potato plants especially under warm and dry weather conditions. A single larva can destroy up to 40 to 50 cm’ of the leaf surface which corresponds to 1 % to 2 % of the leaf area of plants at the developmental stage appearance of blossom””.…
Environment

Forrer H.-R., Jenny E., Hecker A.

Intervention thresholds for Septoria tritici

In the last ten years, Septoria tritici (ST) become one of the most important wheat diseases in Switzerland. To develop economic and intervention thresholds, 33 different situations from ten field trials with natural infections were analysed. Swiss wheat cultivars of different resistances were analysed from 1993 to 1997. For the economic threshold, a value of…
Plant production

Schubiger F.X., Bosshard H.-R., Lehmann J.

Net energy content of different grass species

The content of net energy for lactation, crude protein and crude fibre of fifteen grass species were compared. Samples were collected in field trials during the first, second and third growth cycle of a total of five growth cycles per year. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) produced the forage with the highest content of net…
Plant production

Mediavilla V., Bassetti P., Konermann M., Schmid-Slembrouck I.

Optimisation of nitrogen fertilisation and seed density in hemp crop

To study the influence of nitrogen fertilisation and seed density in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) field trials were carried out in Switzerland and South Germany. A high seed density (30-60 kg/ha) and nitrogen fertilisation did increase stem and bast yields. Nitrogen also increased seed yield, plant height but also lodging. Seed yield was higher at…
Agricultural economics

Harder W.

The Parliament passes the Agricultural policy 2002

Il 29 aprile 1998 il Parlamento ha varato nuova legge sull’agricoltura. Si conclude così un’importante fase della riforma agraria avviata nel 1992 con il Settimo rapporto sull’ agricoltura. Gli aspetti fondamentali della riforma agraria sono l’orientamento dell’ogricoltura verso il mercato e l’indennizzo, mediante pagamenti diretti, delle prestazioni ecologiche e d’interesse per la collettività
Environment

Schaffner D., Schwab A., Zwimpfer T., Kappeler P.

Complex seed mixtures increase species diversity on wildflower strips

Wildflower strips, sown with different seed mixtures, were established on contrasting soil types of arable land on the Swiss plateau. The objectives were to develop seed mixtures which support plant species diversity on wildflower strips over a considerable period of time, and to investigate factors which could potentially cause a decrease in species diversity. After…
Environment

Denoth F., Egli M., Allgöwer B.

Soil surveillance in the canton of Berne (Switzerland) – first results

The presented, GIS-based model classifies the loss of phosphorus due to surface runoff in agricultural ecosystems. The proposed modelling approach employs the following fundamental data: a detailed soil map, a map on land use, and the digital elevation model. The required maps and a voluminous data base was available for the Lippenrütibach basin, where the…
Plant production

Walther U., Weisskopf P., Jäggli F.

Effect of soil characteristics, farming system and weather on optimum nitrogen application in winter barley and winter wheat

Data from 822 plots were used to test different methods of estimating the optimum nitrogen application in winter barley and winter wheat. No method could estimate with sufficient accuracy the optimum amount as determined with the Nmin-method. Possible explanations are the non-additive effect of the different factors and the almost innumerable combination possibilities of the…

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