Milk Surplus in Switzerland: MuKa as a Solution

In milk production, calves are separated from their mothers within 24 hours after birth so that as much milk as possible can be used for humans. Simultaneously, a portion of this milk is discarded. As reported by K-Tipp, over the festive period alone, 300 tonnes of skimmed milk ended up in biogas plants, and other dairy products were even incinerated. At the same time, surplus milk is sold on the world market at low prices as butter, cream, or cheap cheese. "Discarding milk while calves lose their mother milk – and their mother – is an intolerable contradiction. Cow's milk is mother's milk. And it primarily belongs to the calf," says Julia Fischer, Campaign Manager for Farm Animals at VIER PFOTEN Switzerland.

High performance and inappropriate incentives at the cost of animals, environment, and taxpayers

The milk surplus is self-inflicted. High-performance cows, concentrated feed, and the guaranteed purchase of all produced milk create the wrong incentives for overproduction. The consequences: too much nitrogen burdens soils and water, animals suffer from performance pressure and separation from mother and calf, and annual subsidies in the triple-digit million range flow into cheese exports alone. At the same time, many dairy farms are economically under pressure. Sharply falling guide prices further worsen their situation.

Less quantity, more quality: MuKa as a healthy step for the market, animals, and farms

Mother-bound calf rearing addresses the imbalance in the system. Calves drink from their mothers, which means that part of the milk is used sensibly and naturally instead of marketed. At the same time, research and practice show that calves that remain with their mother for several months are significantly healthier and require less antibiotics. A corresponding motion to promote MuKa was submitted by National Councillor Meret Schneider (Green Party, ZH). "MuKa is not a romantic illusion but a realistic approach to a healthier milk market: less quantity, but higher quality, better animal welfare and more stability for businesses," explains Cornelia Buchli, veterinarian and Head of the MuKa Office.

Eliminate inappropriate incentives, promote animal welfare

Politics must correct false incentives and focus subsidies on animal-friendly, market-relieving production systems. This includes targeted promotion of mother- bound calf rearing, the removal of legal and practical barriers, and the improvement of market access for corresponding businesses. A central point is protecting the term "mother-bound calf rearing." Currently, a legal definition is lacking, which is why the term is sometimes used for production forms where calves are kept with their mothers only briefly or with severely restricted contact, as a report by the Foundation for Animals in the Law (TIR) in collaboration with the association Cowpassion, the MuKa Office and FOUR PAWS shows. "Those who genuinely achieve animal welfare services must be able to rely on these being honestly labeled. Without binding minimum criteria, the term MuKa is diluted. This harms animals, producers, and the credibility of the entire system," says Sibel Konyo, legal staff member at the Foundation for Animals in the Law (TIR).

MuKa as an opportunity in the current crisis

Especially now, when milk is being discarded and producers are under tremendous price pressure, agriculture, politics, and the industry should seriously consider mother- bound calf rearing as a solution approach. MuKa is good for the calves, relieves the milk market, and offers businesses a more sustainable perspective. Politics, industry, and retail are challenged to promote animal-friendly production forms, create clear framework conditions, and enable consumers to have genuine choice through transparent labeling.

Background: What does MuKa mean?

Mother-bound calf rearing (MuKa) is a form of husbandry in milk production where calves stay with their mother for several months and drink directly from the udder. The cow continues to be milked, but part of the milk is available for the calf. This allows for a natural mother-child relationship, improves animal health, and reduces the need for antibiotics. At the same time, less milk is sold – an effect that benefits the milk market and businesses with fair pricing.

Media Contacts:
FOUR PAWS – Animal Welfare Foundation
Oliver Loga
Press Manager Switzerland
Altstetterstrasse 124
8048 Zurich
Tel. +41 43 311 80 90
presse@vier-pfoten.ch
www.vier-pfoten.ch

Foundation for Animals in the Law (TIR)
MLaw Sibel Konyo
Legal Staff Member
Tel. +41 43 443 06 43
konyo@tierimrecht.org
www.tierimrecht.org

MuKa Office
Dr. med. vet. Cornelia Buchli
Head of MuKa Office
Mother-Calf Husbandry Support Association
8810 Horgeninfo@mu-ka-ch

Cowpassion
Evelyn Scheidegger
President Association Cowpassion
evelyn@cowpassion.ch
https://cowpassion.ch/
https://www.mu-ka.ch/

Editor's note: Image rights belong to the respective publisher. Image rights: VIER PFOTEN