In the mountains of the Jura, the conditions of cultivation place different demands on agriculture than in the valley area. Traditional farming methods do not always have a promising future here. This is what this farming couple in the western part of the Bernese Jura had to realise. Their old, cramped stables for the dairy cows were no longer up to date and called for investment. However, the size of the farm with the existing forage base was too small for a worthwhile expansion. In addition, the existing land was not optimally suited for keeping cows due to the topography and climate. A suitable alternative was found in the conversion to dairy goat husbandry. The consumption of goat milk products is increasing and has recently shown strong demand in a niche segment. Farmers who invest in goat husbandry are pioneers. This means that there is little documentation for structural conversions in this sector. It is difficult to calculate a conversion and it involves a certain risk. In the end, the total costs of the changeover were higher and used up all the savings. The extremely bad weather conditions last summer led to painful yield losses in fodder. The resulting need to purchase additional animal feed posed a serious threat to the farm’s existence.

Expensive transition

In the case of new production forms, the first to risk such a step are always burdened with so-called “pioneering work”. This means that they have to acquire all knowledge about husbandry, buildings and technical equipment themselves. In doing so, they have to fulfil the legal requirements, which are usually based on theoretical rather than practical principles. This does not simplify the implementation and makes it more expensive. Likewise, the planners and stable constructors lack experience and have no corresponding comparative figures. Thus, even with cautious calculations with safety margins, higher transition costs can result through no fault of their own, and the financial limits can be overstretched.

Making the right use of regional resources

This region, with its rather harsh climate and shallow, mostly steep land, offers only a scarcely average forage base. The predominantly steep slope is poorly suited to cattle grazing. Therefore, goats fit much better into this terrain and cause considerably less damage to the sward. Without farmers adapting livestock management, the impact on this area would be enormous. Besides the loss of production bases for healthy and sustainable food, the obliteration of the region would become excessive. With Switzerland’s own already scarce resources, these usable areas should be preserved at all costs.

Funding

Suyana Foundation team members visited this innovative, hard-working and motivated farming family. With Suyana’s support, they are able to overcome the difficult and challenging times. They now have a sustainable, solid livelihood again and thus have a secure future ahead of them.