Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux (ALP) was created in 2004 by merging the Swiss Federal Research Stations for Animal Production in Posieux (RAP) and for Dairy Products in Liebefeld (FAM). This fusion ensures coordinated, across-the-board research "from pasture to plate": in other words, from animal feed, production and processing, to foods.
Our research is conducted in the interests of

• healthy, safe, high-quality dairy, meat and honey products
• improving the competitiveness of dairy, meat and honey products
• ecological, market-driven dairy and meat production as well as milk and meat processing
• supporting production systems as well as milk and meat processing in outlying alpine regions

Activities relevant for the Cost Action Feed for Health

Milk and meat production
Since a grate part of Swiss farm land is pastures, issues on grazing are a priority in ruminant research. Various grazing and complementary feeding strategies are investigated for milk production, and low input grazing systems with beef cattle are tested as possible tool for conservation of alpine pastures.

Feeding regimes have a significant impact on animal health, thus various issues related to the prevention of nutritional diseases in animals were investigated. High value animal products are crucial for a sustainable agricultural production and hence are an important part of our research efforts. Detailed investigations are carried out focusing on the influence of feeding regimes or production systems on technological, nutritional and hygienic quality of products.

Nutritional and technological quality
Meat produced on alpine pastures is advantageous in terms of nutritional quality, typicality and image. The relevant characteristics therefore need to be identified and the influencing factors controlled. At the same time the basic quality properties must be maximized.

For the milk market, where competition is increasing in intensity, it is essential to develop innovative products. One strategy is to use targeted feeding to produce milk containing compounds which prove beneficial to human health. Priority is being given to studies relating to conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and trace elements.

Official feed inspection
The official feed inspection, which makes part of ALP, aims to ensure the availability of good quality feed for the nutrition of livestock in order to protect human and animal health and the environment. Products used to feed livestock have a long-term influence on the quality of foods of animal origin. Official animal feed inspections means that monitoring is effected prior to food inspection.

Scientist involved in COST Action Feed for health: Hans Dieter Hess