Are traditional Swiss livestock breeds at risk of extinction?

Published on December 8, 2025

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Breeding associations warn that Switzerland’s new animal breeding ordinance could jeopardise rare livestock breeds – and potentially push some closer to extinction. The Bündner Oberländer sheep, for example, has a long and fragile history. Its predecessor, the Tavetsch sheep, virtually died out in Switzerland decades ago. The current breed was rebuilt from the few surviving animals and similar types. Today, the Association for the Preservation of the Graubünden Oberland Sheep fears for its future. Asked whether the breed might become extinct, association president Ernst Oertle says: “Yes, it could. But I hope not. We are fighting back and doing everything we can to prevent this.” New assessments raise concerns The source of breeders’ worries is the revised federal animal breeding ordinance. The new rules make breeding assessments more complex – and therefore more expensive. In addition, assessments are likely to be carried out less frequently by association members and more often ... Full story here Are you the author?

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SWI swissinfo.ch – the international service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Since 1999, swissinfo.ch has fulfilled the federal government’s mandate to distribute information about Switzerland internationally, supplementing the online offerings of the radio and television stations of the SBC. Today, the international service is directed above all at an international audience interested in Switzerland, as well as at Swiss citizens living abroad.

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