Archive

2,575 posts

Categories
Select one or more categories (Optional.)
Reset
Agricultural economics

Zbinden P., Hofer A., Künzi N.

Economic result of a production system with primiparous sows

Gilts have finished their first cycle of reproduction before reaching the adult weight. Carcass value of primiparous sows should be closer to fattening pigs than to old sows. An experiment has proved that carcasses of primiparous sows which weaned less than nine piglets had a good meat quality.<br>Calculation of gross margin gave different results depending…
Animal production

Stoll P.

Additional vitamin E in the ration for fattening pigs, Part 1. Fattening performance and consumer preferences

In a joint project of the companies Hoffmann-la Roche, Micarna SA and the Swiss Federal Research Station for Animal Production (RAP), the effect of an additional vitamin E supplementation of 100 mg/kg in a standard diet on pork quality parameters and purchasing habits of consumers was investigated. The control treatment consisted of a standard diet…
Animal production

Jost M., Bracher-Jakob A.

The effect of Sanobiotic®S, a multiactive probiotic growth promoter, in rearing piglets Vitamin A concentration in calf livers: results of a field survey

In a five week feeding trial with 160 rearing piglets, the effect of the multiactive probiotic growth promoter Sanobiotice® S was investigated alone or combined with 50 mg of Carbadox in comparison to a negative and positive control (50 mg of Carbadox) diet.<br>Only the treatment factor Carbadox increased growth rates. Due to differing animal losses,…
Animal production

Dufey P.-A.

Additional vitamin E in the ration for fattening pigs, Part 2. Effect on sensory and physico-chemical properties of meat

Vitamin E is an antioxidant. Various papers report on positive effects of vitamin E supplementations on meat color and oxidation stability thus improving meat quality.<br>In a feeding trial with fattening pigs, the control diet contained, according to Swiss feeding recommendations, 40 mg of vitamin E per kg of feed. The experimental diet was supplemented with…
Agricultural economics

Schleiss K., Meier U., Dumondel M., Lehmann B.

Comparing the costs of treating biogenic waste under Swiss conditions

The cost of treating biogenic waste is subject of discussion. However, there is not much data available comparing the costs of the different treatment alternatives. In this report the costs of the following treatment alternatives are compared: Agricultural composting along the fieldpaths in two different sizes, the composting on one small and two mid-sized open…
Agricultural economics

Lips M., Rieder P.

Intensity of energy use in Swiss agriculture

The intensity of energy use in the agricultural production systems of six industrialized countries, among them Switzerland, was investigated. The study has shown that Switzerland, like The Netherlands, has a high energy intensity. Between the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s the energy intensity of the Swiss agricultural sector has decreased. The same process can…
Environment

Wyss G.S., Müller-Schärer H.

Biological control of weeds: tracking the resistance mechanisms

Quantitative resistance of Senecic vulgaris L. to the rust fungus Puccinia lagenophorae Cooke was investigated in terms of underlying mechanisms and relevance for biological weed control following the system management approach. The infection process of P. lagenophorae on S. vulgaris was studied by light, fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. The infection process was quantified using…
Environment

Chervet A., Stricker L.

Surface runoff of phosphorus – an evaluation model

“The Soil Protection Service of the canton of Berne is running a soil surveillance program since 1993. Its aim is to record the present condition of the soils and the further development of their fertility. The soil surveillance program serves to determine “”hot-spots””, where immediate action is to be taken, but even more it allows…
Environment

Bigler F., Jeanneret Ph., Lips A., Schüpbach B., Waldburger M., Fried P.

Evaluation of the impact of ecological measures in Swiss agriculture on biodiversity Evaluation of effects of ecological measures

“According to the Swiss Federal law on Agriculture (article 316), ecological subsidies”” are paid to farmers only if they respect special ecological rules on their farms. One of the major objectives of ecological measures is the conservation and increase of biodiversity in agricultural landscape. Five to seven percent of the land of each farm in…
Animal production

Wyss U.

Silage additives to improve the aerobic stabilitySilage additives to improve the aerobic stability

The efficacy of different silage additives on aerobic stability was investigated in maize silage. The maize was harvested at two different dry matter levels (31 and 39 % dry matter) and ensiled in 1.5 liter laboratory scale silos. During the storage period different air stress conditions were made.<br>The silageadditives Lact-A-Pro containing lactic and propionic acid…
Food

Zehntner U.

Phage analysis in Swiss dairy plants 1986-1996

Since 1986, the FAM offers to the consultant services the possibility to have phages analysed. Methods used for this purpose have been optimised and are, since 1994, integrated in an accredited field. Our experiments have shown that phages participate in most of the starter acidification failures. Although phages have to be tolerated in dairy factories,…
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…

Project partners

  • Logo AGRIDEA
  • Logo Agroscope
  • Logo ZHAW

© 2026 Agrarforschung Switzerland Terms and conditions