Cattle and suckler cow farming
Healthy & Fit
Cattle, suckler cows, and calves live in a natural way on the Rigi Alps. They are outside in the pasture day and night. Like high-altitude training for athletes, an alpine summer strengthens the animals' muscles. This natural animal farming produces valuable alpine products such as milk and meat.
Animals aged between 6 and 30 months are called cattle or young cattle. They can be male or female. Every summer, around 1,800 cattle move up the Rigi mountain. For them, it's like a vacation in the land of milk and honey, because over 100 different herbs and grasses grow here. That's ten times more than in the valley. The reason for this diversity is, among other things,
- that many herbs can cope better with the lower temperatures and the nutrient-poor soil than the fast-growing grasses.
- The pastures on the alp are mown less often and are less heavily fertilized, which is better for the delicate herbs.
- The sun's rays are more intense, and herbs need a lot of light.
Natural farming
Although cattle on the mountain pasture eat a varied diet, the constant search for food requires alert senses and a lot of walking. Life on the mountain pasture also allows them to play and socialize. Sometimes there is also stress: they have to endure cold spells, heat, thunderstorms, and, increasingly, large predators such as wolves. And they also fight out their ranking.
Fitness program
The high-altitude climate and the amount of exercise have a measurable effect on the health and robustness of the cattle. On the mountain pasture, the heart rate drops, and the number of red blood cells increases. The organism adapts to the relative lack of oxygen in the thin mountain air and strengthens the skeleton and muscles. The time spent on the mountain pasture has a lasting effect on young animals. During the summer, cattle on the mountain pasture gain less weight than cattle in the valley. But back in the valley, the animals quickly make up for the difference and prove to be more resistant.
Caring for cattle
During the summer, Alpine herdsmen not only look after their animals, including young cattle from other farms. Twice a day, they walk through the Alpine pastures to count the cattle and check that they are doing well. This activity is called “cattle watching”. After a few weeks, cattle experts can tell all the animals apart and know which groups they form.
Mother cow and calf
Since the 1990s, you can also see mother cows with calves on the Rigi. In the case of mother cow farming, the calf remains with its mother after birth and initially feeds only on its mother's milk, later also on grass and hay. In this natural form of breeding, growth-promoting additives or soy are prohibited.
Respect for mother cows
Like all mothers, mother cows defend their offspring. Therefore, respectful behavior is advisable for your own protection. Dogs should be kept on a leash. It is best to walk around mother cows in a wide arc. Never seek contact with calves. If a herd approaches you, remain calm and do not turn your back. Respect fences.