Invited paper Sustainability in animal production systems: research and implementation in Switzerland and beyond

Abstract

Switzerland, like many countries worldwide, exhibits a broad diversity of livestock farming systems (LFS), shaped by distinct pedo-climatic conditions, environmental variability, and social-historical contexts. Despite this heterogeneity, livestock systems face comparable challenges that converge around six key priorities: maximising the efficiency of resource use, improving animal health and welfare, reducing food/feed competition, minimising greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient losses, promoting agro-ecosystem circularity, and enhancing positive externalities such as biodiversity and landscape management. In response, the Swiss model promotes a site-adapted agro-ecologically approach to arable and livestock production. This entails reserving arable land primarily for human food production, while utilising non-arable land (particularly permanent grasslands) for forage cultivation. Ruminants, uniquely adapted to convert fibrous herbage into high-value food (e.g. milk and meat), are central to this strategy, simultaneously contributing to food security, ecosystem services, and rural livelihoods. Complementing this, the strategic integration of temporary grass-legume leys into arable crop rotations is emphasised. These leys not only produce high-quality forage but also provide agronomic benefits including improved soil structure, erosion control, weed suppression, enhanced nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration. Their inclusion enhances resilience and sustainability of arable farming systems. However, this grass-based livestock model has limited applicability for monogastrics such as pigs and poultry, which require diets richer in digestible energy. Addressing this limitation necessitates a paradigm shift toward the partial or complete replacement of conventional feed with alternative resources such as agro-industrial by-products, former food products, and algae. These strategies mitigate feed-food competition and help close nutrient cycles, contributing to a more circular bioeconomy. Ultimately, a sustainable livestock sector should integrate regionally adapted production models, combining grassland-based ruminant systems with circular, resource-efficient feeding approaches for monogastrics. The Swiss experience illustrates how science-based, context-specific strategies can support more resilient, equitable, and environmentally aligned food systems.