Animal husbandry: Switzerland - Biosuisse

BREEDING

  • Genetic manipulation and heat synchronization is prohibited.
  • Artificial insemination is permitted.
  • All other forms of artificial or otherwise influenced reproduction (e.g. embryo transfer, sperm-sexing, cloning) is prohibited.
  • Embryo transfer (ET) or cloning is not allowed.

FEED

  • Bought-in feeds serve only as supplements to the feed produced on the holding and, where possible, should be certified organic.

The following feeds may be bought in:

  • Bud feed
  • In-conversion Bud feed; the share of in-conversion feed must not exceed 30% of the ration of each specific individual livestock category
  • Feeds certified as Bud auxiliary inputs
  • Organic feeds in accordance with the Swiss Ordinance on Organic Farming and non-organic feeds.
  • Permitted non-organic feeds may, however, only be used on the farm as single components or as components of a certified livestock feed.
  • Bud milk powder may be fed as a supplement.
  • Feeding of milk powder substitute is not permitted.
  • Since 1 January 2004, at least 90% of dry matter consumed by ruminants must be supplied as fresh, dried, or ensiled roughage, calculated per livestock category. FOR LIVERY HORSES, non-organic feed components must not comprise more than 10% of total feed consumption.
  • FOR POULTRY, the fattening ration must contain at least 65% grains and grain legumes (or their products and by-products) and oilseeds (or their products and by-products).

Permitted feedstuff:

  • Ruminants must be fed 100% organic feed.
  • Roughage
  • Linseed
  • Dextrose
  • Molasses from sugar production
  • Fruit syrup
  • Potato protein
  • Maize gluten
  • Brewer’s yeast

Permitted non-organic feedstuffs

  • Potato protein
  • Maize gluten*
  • Roughage in accordance with Annex 3
  • Molasses from sugar production
  • Fruit syrup
  • Brewer’s yeast*
  • Dairy waste products for pigs

Prohibited feed/feeding methods:

  • Chemically-synthesized additives (urea, anti-microbial performance enhancers, enzymes, synthetic amino acids etc.)
  • Chemotherapeutic medication used prophylactically (sulphonamides and others), antibiotics, hormones, coccidiostats etc. The use of anthelmintics (wormers) in high risk areas is permitted (alpine pastures, set stocking systems);
  • Fattening methods involving force-feeding and the keeping and housing of animals in conditions that could lead to anaemia;
  • Catering wastes
  • Addition to ruminant feed of animal proteins, animal fats, protected fats and proteins, propylene glycol, propionic acid, and other substances and additives that are not suited to ruminant digestion