The Importance of Sheep Farming in the Swiss Alps

Sheep farming has a long tradition in Switzerland, especially in the Alps and on the southern side of the Alps. Anyone hiking in the Alps today is very likely to come across a flock of sheep, which not only characterize the landscape, but also perform important tasks.

Sheep are mainly kept for meat production, although sheep's milk production is becoming increasingly important. However, they also play a central role in agriculture. The frugal and robust animals are also known as "living lawnmowers", as they are ruminants that feed mainly on hay and grass and continuously consume and digest food throughout the day. Their grazing helps to maintain the alpine landscape, as they keep the meadows open and thus - if properly managed - contribute to the preservation of biodiversity.

Summer grazing is a special event: around 200,000 sheep, about half of the Swiss sheep population, spend the summer on the alpine pastures, where they find lush and nutrient-rich plants. In regions such as Graubünden, Lower Valais, Vaud and Uri, you often see large, herded flocks; in other cantons, smaller, unherded groups are common.