Switzerland dairy sector stress

In late July 2026 Swiss authorities reported a surge of fever, diarrhoea and sharply reduced milk output among dairy cows. The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office began investigations, noting no identified pathogen and no confirmed link to a recent heat wave, while emphasizing that the condition posed no public‑health risk.

A few days later, industry data from Proviande showed a 15 % rise in cattle slaughter for June‑July, driven largely by a drought that limited feed and strained the milk market. The increase, especially among cows, reflected farmers’ response to feed shortages and market pressures, with expectations of short‑term price impacts.

By early August, Swiss abattoirs processed about 70,000 cattle, a 15 % year‑on‑year increase, with cow numbers up 32.9 % (roughly 7,000 additional heads). Proviande linked the surge to prolonged drought, reduced feed availability and a difficult milk market. Around 1,100 farms filed heat‑damage insurance claims, and the federal premium‑subsidy scheme for frost and drought risk remains active to mitigate further losses. Together, the reports illustrate mounting environmental and market pressures on Switzerland’s dairy sector, from health issues in cows to heightened culling as drought worsens feed availability.