Animal breeding

What FiBL is doing on this theme
- Group Animal Housing & Livestock Breeding, Departement of Livestock Sciences, FiBL Switzerland
News on the theme
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21.07.22

A journey to organic plant and animal breeding initiatives in Europe

A new publication of FiBL takes readers on a journey through Europe to explore independent organic…

05.04.22

More aggressive bees are ahead of the posse

Healthy, vigorous and resilient - these are the criteria used for selecting honeybee colonies for…

22.07.21

Excellent health with little concentrate: New bulls for dairy breeding

Healthy cows and as high a milk yield as possible: These are the main criteria in dairy breeding.…

16.06.20

Mapping organic livestock breeding in Europe

A new survey wants to map present breeding activities in Europe to improve networking and exchange.

28.04.20

Organic Farm Knowledge - A unique resource with tools for farmers across Europe

The online platform Organic Farm Knowledge (www.organic-farmknoweldge.org) intends to promote…

21.02.20

Article on local dairy breed comparison named article of the month

A recent study comparing local and Holstein dairy breeds under organic production conditions…

14.03.19

New publication on organic animal farming with FiBL input

A new book with contributions from several FiBL authors explores how organic animal production can…

09.08.18

ProYoungStock – new research project on sustainable calf rearing

In spring 2018, eight European organisations started a three-year research project on sustainable…

13.02.18

Animal and plant breeding at BIOFACH 2018

At the special exhibition, the "Meeting Point Organic right from the start", FiBL has designed the…

24.03.16

Video: Improving health and welfare of organic dairy cows

The aim of the OrganicDairyHealth project is to improve health and welfare in organic dairy cows. In…
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Relevant publications for practitioners
Publication Language

Year Of Publication
Relevant publications in organic eprints
- Spengler Neff, Anet (2026) Sélection laitière biologique en région de montagne. Fiche technique. FiBL, Bio Suisse, Centre de formation et de conseil agricole Plantahof, Bio Grischun, Inforama Berner Oberland, CH-Frick.
  orgprints.org: Sélection laitière biologique en région de montagne
- Krebs, Adrian and Föller, Eva (2025) Nachzuchtschau Bio-KB-Stiere am Bio-Viehtag 2025. Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau FiBL, CH-Frick .
  orgprints.org: Nachzuchtschau Bio-KB-Stiere am Bio-Viehtag 2025
- Bieber, Anna; Hinrichs, Dirk; Moser, Florian N.; Maeschli, Ariane; Lora, Isabella; Cozzi, Giulio and Leiber, Florian (2025) Productive lifespan and lifetime production of dual-purpose and dairy breeds in mixed herds under grassland-based systems. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 24 (1), pp. 2684-2689.
  orgprints.org: Productive lifespan and lifetime production of dual-purpose and dairy breeds in mixed herds under grassland-based systems
- Spengler Neff, Anet and Bühl, Verena (2025) Sélection de vaches laitières conformes aux conditions locales. Fiche technique. Institut de recherche de l'agriculture biologique FiBL, CH-Frick.
  orgprints.org: Sélection de vaches laitières conformes aux conditions locales
- Bühl, Verena (2025) Repenser l’élevage bovin. Bioactualités, 2025 (8), pp. 12-13.
  orgprints.org: Repenser l’élevage bovin
- Bühl, Verena (2025) Umdenken in der Rinderhaltung. Bioaktuell, 2025 (8), pp. 12-13.
  orgprints.org: Umdenken in der Rinderhaltung
- Ulmann, Selina; Kanner, Elsa; Spengler Neff, Anet; Silali, Oscar; Chakoma, Charles; Abdullahi, Umar and Voigts, Mareike (2025) Learn more about African organic Agriculture: A Resource Manual for Trainers. Chapter 6.3. Dairy and Cattle Farming. Research Institute or Organic Agriculture FiBL, CH-Frick . Online at https://www.organic-africa.net/organic-agriculture/african-organic-agriculture-training-manual/cattle.html <https://www.organic-africa.net/organic-agriculture/african-organic-agriculture-training-manual/cattle.html>, accessed on: September 2025.
  orgprints.org: Learn more about African organic Agriculture: A Resource Manual for Trainers. Chapter 6.3. Dairy and Cattle Farming
- Bühl, Verena; Spengler Neff, Anet and Thanner, Phie (2025) Podcast: Die richtige Kuh für jeden Standort | FiBL Focus. Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau FiBL, CH-Frick . Online at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1774931/episodes/17286603-die-richtige-kuh-fur-jeden-standort <https://www.buzzsprout.com/1774931/episodes/17286603-die-richtige-kuh-fur-jeden-standort>, accessed on: August 2025.
  orgprints.org: Podcast: Die richtige Kuh für jeden Standort | FiBL Focus
- Spengler Neff, Anet (2025) Biomilchviehzucht im Berggebiet. FiBL Merkblatt. Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau FiBL, CH-Frick.
  orgprints.org: Biomilchviehzucht im Berggebiet
- Spengler Neff, Anet and Bühl, Verena (2025) Standortgerechte Milchviehzucht. Hintergründe, Anwendung und Interpretation des Einschätzungsbogens. Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau FiBL, CH-Frick.
  orgprints.org: Standortgerechte Milchviehzucht. Hintergründe, Anwendung und Interpretation des Einschätzungsbogens
All relevant publications in organic eprints

Projects on the theme

Status	FiBL	Title	Start	End
ongoing	FR	Working together to upscale cow-calf-contact in dairy production and beyond (TransformDairyNet)	01.01.2025	31.05.2027
ongoing	FR	Improving the valorisation of organic dairy calves (VALOV’BIO)	01.10.2024	31.12.2027
completed	CH	Exercise and pasture for healthy calves	01.04.2024	01.04.2025
ongoing	DE	Circular feeding strategies in organic poultry production (GreenChicken)	01.06.2023	31.05.2027
completed	CH	Abandoning of male chick-killing in Swiss organic egg production (Biohahn)	01.05.2023	31.12.2025
completed	FR	Study of factors for natural induction of lactation in non-gestating goats and consequences on their welfare (Gentle Dairy)	01.01.2023	13.12.2025
completed	FR	Study and promotion of rearing practices for young dairy cattle, sheep and goats with an adult (PANAS’LAIT)	01.01.2023	31.12.2025
completed	DE	Animal welfare competence centre sheep (TWZ Schaf)	01.10.2021	31.03.2025
completed	FR	Study of the parameters for the onset of lactation in non-pregnant goats (LACTODOUCE)	24.06.2021	31.01.2023
completed	CH	Increasing longevity of Swiss dairy cows: factors, future scenarios and strategy development	01.04.2020	31.03.2025
completed	CH	Guidelines on breeding sows for piglet producers	20.11.2019	31.10.2020
completed	CH EU	Engagement of the organic value chain to support Organic Breeding in Europe (ENGAGEMENT.BIOBREEDING EUROPE)	01.09.2019	31.08.2022
ongoing	CH	Development of organic dairy cattle breeding ("Bio-Semen-Straws") (Bio-KB-Stiere)	01.04.2019	31.12.2026
completed	CH	SMAll RuminanTs breeding for Efficiency and Resilience (SMARTER) (SMARTER)	01.11.2018	31.10.2022
completed	CH	Erhaltung der dunklen Bienen durch eine extensive bienengemässe Bioimkerei (Projekt Dunkle Bienen)	01.01.2018	31.12.2021
ongoing	CH	Our pig (Development of an alternative pig breed)	01.09.2017	31.12.2030
completed	AT DE	Sustainable pig production systems (SusPigSys)	01.09.2017	30.11.2020
completed	CH	GenTORE - Genomic management tools to optimize resilience and efficiency (GenTORE)	01.08.2017	31.07.2022
completed	CH	Improving animal health and welfare in organic cattle milk production through breeding and management (OrganicDairyHealth)	15.01.2015	30.06.2018
ongoing	CH	Lectures biodynamic school Rheinau	01.01.2015
completed	CH	Alternative pig breeds for organic farms	01.04.2014	01.04.2015
ongoing	CH	Ram pasture	01.01.2014
completed	CH	Erforschung von Merkmalen der effizienten Raufutterkuh mit Hilfe von Fress- und Wiederkäusensoren (Rumiwatch)	01.04.2013	31.10.2015
completed	CH	Site-appropriate husbandry with kin breeding in cows (Kuhfamilienzucht)	01.01.2010	31.12.2014
completed	CH	Development of integrated livestock breeding and management strategies to improve animal health, product quality and performance in European organic and 'low input' milk, meat and egg production (LOWINPUTBREEDS)	01.05.2009	30.04.2014
completed	CH	Parasitenresistenz und Fleischqualität von Schweizer Schafen – mit Fokus auf alte und bedrohte Rassen	01.01.2008	31.12.2009
completed	CH	Berücksichtigung der Gesundheit in der Rindviehzucht	01.09.2007	28.02.2009
completed	CH	Standort- und betriebsgerechte Bio-Milchviehzucht im Kanton Graubünden (Biozucht Graubünden)	01.01.2007	31.12.2010
completed	CH	Konstitution und Tiergesundheit	01.01.2007	31.12.2009
ongoing	CH	Standortgerechte Tierzucht (Bio-Milchviehzucht Umsetzung)	01.01.2006
completed	CH	Evaluierung von Hühnerlinien für Demeter-Betriebe	01.01.2006	30.06.2011
completed	CH	Stand und Entwicklung der Bio-Rindviehzucht	01.09.2004	31.05.2006
completed	CH	Genotyp x Umwelt Interaktionen und nachhaltige Zuchtstrategien (ÖKUH)	01.05.2004	31.12.2006
completed	CH	Development of an ecological total breeding value (ÖZW)	01.10.2001	31.10.2007
completed	CH	Berücksichtigung der Gesundheit in der Rindviehzucht	01.01.2000	31.12.2004
completed	CH	Bio Weide-Beef® (BWB)	01.01.2000	31.12.2007
completed	CH	Zweinutzungsgeflügel	01.01.1999	31.12.2002
completed	CH	Zucht von Geflügel auf Parasitenresistenz	01.01.1999	30.11.1999
ongoing	CH	Biologisch-dynamische Rindviehzucht: Grundlagen und Praxisgruppen (Biodynamische Austauschrunden)	01.01.1992
completed	CH	Umsetzung: Standortgerechte Zucht im Alpenraum
completed	CH	Geflügelzucht: geeignete Linien für Freilandhaltung

Overview over all themes and subthemes

Animal breeding

What FiBL is doing on this theme

News on the theme

A journey to organic plant and animal breeding initiatives in Europe

More aggressive bees are ahead of the posse

Excellent health with little concentrate: New bulls for dairy breeding

Mapping organic livestock breeding in Europe

Organic Farm Knowledge - A unique resource with tools for farmers across Europe

Article on local dairy breed comparison named article of the month

New publication on organic animal farming with FiBL input

ProYoungStock – new research project on sustainable calf rearing

Animal and plant breeding at BIOFACH 2018

Video: Improving health and welfare of organic dairy cows

Relevant publications for practitioners

Relevant publications in organic eprints

Projects on the theme

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