Swiss Agricultural Research – Archive of the Online Journal

Animal production 2010

Kauke M., Savary P.

The aim of this study was to record, through appropriate ethological and physiological parameters, the extent of the stress caused in animals by noise and vibration. Various intensities of noise and vibration were produced in an autotandem milking parlour by means of special loudspeaker systems (variant A: 70 dB(A) / 0.5 m/s2; variant B: 80…

Animal production 2010

Rérat M.

In Switzerland, the entry of veal calves in the fattening unit at the age of 4-7 weeks coincides with the transition from passive to active immunity. The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of the entry age in the fattening unit on the health status of veal calves. Three groups of…

Animal production 2010

Morel I., Collomb M., Van Dorland A., Bruckmaier R.

An experiment was set up to study the effect of an energy deficit of approximately 15 MJ per day for two weeks on the composition of milk fat. Twenty-four cows at the beginning of full lactation, which were fed the same diet (hay, mixtures of silage of grass and corn, potatoes, concentrates of energy, protein…

Animal production 2010

Morel I., Chassot A.

The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of veal production from suckled beef calves under Swiss conditions. The performances of the calves were compared as a function of the genetic type of the mother and their nutritional status was evaluated as a function of the mothers’ diet. The test was carried out…

Animal production 2009

Miéville-Ott V., Meisser M., Chassot A., Freléchoux F.

The PASTO project tested and developed innovative practices in meat production based on Herens breed, that contribute to landscape preservation and to added value creating at local level. A multi-disciplinary approach evaluated the agronomical, economic, technical and sociological aspects of these practical cases. In the perspective of transferring the results to the practitioners, a transversal…

Animal production 2009

Leiber F., Messikommer R., Wenk C

Three broiler diets were composed, containing respectively 40% of wheat, hulled buckwheat or raw buckwheat. Respectively 24 male broiler chicken (Ross PM3) were fattened with one of these experimental diets from day 8 to 35 of life. Utilization of energy and nutrients as well as fattening performance and weights at slaughter were evaluated. Although fibre…

Animal production 2009

Arrigo Y., Dohme F.

A study was carried out to investigate the potential of condensed tannins (CT) from sainfoin to minimize ruminal ammonia load in dairy cows grazing pasture with a high crude protein content (227 g/kg dry matter [DM]). Eight ruminally fistulated Holstein cows were supplemented daily with either 4 kg DM of dehydrated-pelleted sainfoin (CT content: 71…

Animal production 2009

Schori F.

The effects of different stocking rates with grazing dairy cows, respectively post-grazing sward height (GHVP) were studied on herbage quality and milk production in a rotational grazing system under organic farming conditions. During three vegetation periods cows in production were divided into two groups on the organic farm l’Abbaye (Sorens, canton of Fribourg). 15% more…

Animal production 2009

Meisser M., Tarery M., Chassot A., Freléchoux F.

Shrubland increases in the Alps. One of the main objectives of the Pasto project was to assess the possibilities of limiting reforestation by means of suckler cows in the subalpine zone. Our work aims at clarifying the herd-vegetation relationship, both to ensure good grazing management and to understand the dynamics of reforestation. Most of the…

Animal production 2009

Hasler H., Flury C., Reist S., Braunschweig M., Gaudenz D., Drögemüller C., Drögemüller M., Haase B., Klukowska-Rötzler J., Burger D., Poncet P.A.

The increasing demand of safe and healthy animal products coupled with a decreasing availability of resources and ecological and economic pressures is considered a major challenge for animal production in the future. Research in animal breeding and genetics is therefore warranted in Switzerland. The selective mating of sires and dams represents a crucial step at…

Animal production 2009

Wyss U.

The efficacy of the two silage additives Silostar Protect und Alltech Fireguard WS was investigated to improve the aerobic stability in maize silage. In addition, a treatment without additive (negative control) and a treatment with propionic acid (positive control) were tested. The tests were conducted with maize of the variety Amadeo, which was harvested at…

Animal production 2009

Dufey P.-A., Messadene J., Silacci P., Collomb M.

The aim of this study was to characterise mountain-produced meat. A total of 88 steers of the hardy Swiss Herens breed were compared. The animals came from extensive grassland mountain farms in the Alps (1200 and 1800 m above sea level) and in the Jura (1200 m) and from a lowland farm practising intensive fattening…

Animal production 2009

Chassot A., Deslandes K.A

The purpose of this part of the PASTO project was to develop at farm level an extensive production system fulfilling a dual function – beef production and maintenance of the mountain landscape – and to compare it to a conventional system. A herd of Hérens suckler cows was exclusively kept under mountain conditions on a…

Animal production 2009

Burren A., Reist S., Piccand V., Stürm C., Rieder S., Flury C.

The Swiss College of Agriculture (SCA) in Zollikofen is searching for the ideal cattle type well adapted for a pasture-based milk production scheme. In 2007, the SCA launched a project together with the “KTI” (Swiss Confederation’s innovation promotion agency), the IG Weidemilch (Federation of farmers interested in pasture-based milk production), Swissgenetics (major Swiss AI company)…

Animal production 2009

Stürm C., Robert J.P., Berset J., Rieder S.

Animal production 2009

Wyss U.

The efficacy of the silage additive Lalsil Dry, which should improve the main fermentation on one hand and the aerobic stability on the other hand in grass-silages with dry matter contents above 30 %, was tested in five trials. Two trials were conducted with a mixture of cocksfoot and lucerne, which was pre-wilted of nearly…

Animal production 2009

Gutzwiller A.

Animal production 2009

Wyss U.

The influence of the cutting height, the pre-wilting degree as well as the use of silage additives on the nutritive value and the fermentation quality was investigated in a trial. In autumn 2006, forage of a ley was cut on 7-8 cm and 3-4 cm. A part of the forage of both treatments was ensiled…

Animal production 2009

Hermier R., Miéville-Ott V.

In the PASTO project, experimental agricultural practices with the Herens breed of cattle have been tested. We assessed their acceptability by the cattle breeders to check their chances of being implemented and in what conditions. To do this, we analysed different existing practices in the central Valais, as well as the value system and their…

Animal production 2009

Miéville-Ott V., Meisser M., Chassot A., Freléchoux F.

Mountain agriculture faces numerous challenges: diminishing number of farms and of animals, advancing of the forest, search for viable economic alternatives and multiple social demands concerning the maintenance of landscapes, of biodiversity and the offer of local quality products. Within this context, the PASTO project is testing and developing extensive production methods for meat of…

Animal production 2009

Bühler K., Bucher B., Wenk C

Large white gilts were kept in single pens provided with full-length straw (S) or a rubber mat (R) as bedding. In the grower and finisher period the pigs were restrictively fed either a low fibre diet (130 g/kg DM NDF, treatments LFS and LFR) or a high fibre diet (180 g/kg DM NDF, treatments HFS…

Animal production 2009

Frick G., Dubois S., Chaubert C., Ampuero Kragten S.

Different methods have been employed to detect falsified maize gluten products. Microscopic observations -numerous starch grains, seed envelopes and wheat bran fragments- clearly showed the presence of atypical maize gluten particles in samples with otherwise normal crude protein levels (≥ 60%) and the usual gold-yellow color. Chemical analyses in a few samples confirmed the presence…

Animal production 2009

Pauly C., Kupper T., Spring P.

The objective of the present trial was the determination of growth performance, carcass quality and boar taint of entire male pigs fattened on a Swiss commercial farm. From 2005 to 2007, 1094 entire males were fattened on the Juchhof with a liquid, ad libitum feeding system (15,5 MJ DE/kg DM). From the first to the…

Animal production 2009

Spring P., Kupper T., Pauly C.

To prevent the occurrence of meat with boar taint, which is not accepted by the consumer, male piglets are surgically castrated without anaesthesia. As this method of castration will be banned in Switzerland by 1st January 2010, the project ProSchwein investigated different alternatives. A device for inhalation anaesthesia (anaesthetic gas: isoflurane) showed a good anaesthesia…

Animal production 2008

Steiner B., Van Caenegem L., Schellenberg K.

Floors and especially indoor exercise areas in cattle housing are exposed to high chemical and mechanical stresses. Dung/urine mixtures were analysed to obtain data relating to stresses on exercise area materials. These results, together with information from 52 working farms on the state and animal welfare promotion of exercise area materials, were used as the…

Animal production 2008

Chassot A.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of the suckler cow type, milk or meat, on the post-weaning performances of the yearlings and to examine the production of light carcasses with large size animals. Females and castrated males (in a 1:1 proportion) of a Limousin (Li) sire and F1 Red Holstein X…

Animal production 2008

Chassot A.

The suitability of an herbage based, semi-intensive finishing diet was tested in an indoor feeding trial with two beef cattle types. Castrated male and female (1:3) Angus and Herens suckler calves were weaned at the age of 10 months. They were raised by suckler cows which were exclusively fed grassland based forage. The basic finishing…

Animal production 2008

Morel I., Collomb M., Richter S., Reist M., Bruckmaier R.

The possibility of influencing the composition of milk fat during lactation has already been the subject of multiple studies. At the beginning of lactation, some of the milk fatty acids are derived not only from the diet but also from body reserves which are mobilized to make up for the energy deficit. A project was…

Animal production 2008

Mosimann E., Münger A., Schori F., Pitt J.

A decision support tool for grazing management has been developed in the form of computing calculation sheets. Its utilisation is illustrated by initiation of a rotational grazing system on the farm of l’Abbaye in Sorens in 2003. Planning was based on grass-growth references for pastures with a yield potential of 9,5 t DM/ha/year and on…

Animal production 2008

Dufey P.-A.

This compilation of three tests was aimed at measuring the effect on meat quality of differences in growth rate between a period of reduced feeding level during summering on mountain pastures and a period of finishing. A total of 117 Limousin (LI) X Red Holstein(FT) crossbred steers were used for this synthesis comprising various modes…

Archive

Effect of noise and vibration in milking parlour on dairy cow

Entry age of veal calves in a fattening unit and health status

Influence of an energy deficient diet on milk composition

Production of veal from suckled beef calves: calf performance

PASTO project: towards a realistic scenario for meat production in mountain areas

Buckwheat: a feed for broiler chicken?

Sainfoin versus alfalfaas supplements for grazing cows

Stocking rates on pasture: effect on herbage quality and milk production

PASTO: pasture management and cattle behaviour in subalpine grasslands dominated by green alder

Current examples from animal breeding research in Switzerland

Silage additives and aerobic stability – test results 2008

PASTO: quality of mountain beef

PASTO: animal performance and economical results

Genetic aspects of the trial animals in the project “Pasture based milk production”

The Black-Brown Mountain sheep: 21 years of breeding

Silage additives for grass: test results 2008

Mycotoxins in dutch roughage

Cutting height influences the nutritive value in grass silages

Acceptability of new pratices by cattle breeders: advantages of a sociological approach

The PASTO project: an innovative agricultural system of pratices for mountain regions

Influence of straw and high fibre diets of fattening pigs

Detection of falsified maize gluten

Rearing entire male pigs – a possibility in Switzerland

ProSchwein: Alternatives to the conventional castration of piglets

Durability of mastic asphalt floors in cattle housing

Effect of the suckler cow type on the post-weaning performances of Limousin yearlings

Fattening performance of Angus and Hérens yearlings on a semi-intensive finishing diet after weaning

Influence of feeding strategy during the dry period on the composition of milk at the beginning of lactation

Dairy cow`s pastures. 1. Modelling the grazing management

Dairy cows` pastures. 1. Modelling the grazing management