Drought forces Graubünden cows down from pastures early

Drought has left several alpine pastures in Graubünden without enough grass and water, forcing cows to return to the valley weeks earlier than usual, SRF reports.

The descent from the pastures is normally celebrated with flowers, traditional bells and farmers wearing traditional dress. This year, the cows left the Malix alpine pasture above Chur without the usual decorations or bells.

In Domleschg, the animals returned to the valley around three weeks early. Herdsman Valentin Abt told SRF that the return felt unusual because the usual sense of joy was missing.

The cows normally spend about 90 days grazing on the Malix pasture, at more than 1,600 metres above sea level. This year, they stayed for only 68 days because the drought has stopped fresh grass from growing. The meadows are brown and bare.

Alpine pasture manager Alois Abt said the grass was “dried out, grazed bare and dead”. His family had to buy several tonnes of hay because there was not enough feed. Water has also become scarce, with the springs having dried up weeks ago. “Not a drop of water is coming out anymore,” Abt said. The animals could continue to drink only because the municipality supplied water.

The early return means the cows produce less milk on the pasture, reducing the amount of alpine cheese that can be made. In several regions, a lack of feed is also forcing farmers to slaughter more animals, including animals on the Abt family farm. The increased supply of meat is putting downward pressure on prices.

Experts expect summers like this to become more frequent. Karin Caren Pauler, an ecologist at Agroscope, said climate change would continue to challenge Swiss farmers. Possible responses under discussion include water storage, pumping systems and more drought-resistant animals such as zebus, sheep and goats.

The cows have reached the valley, but herdsman Valentin Abt still has to return to the pasture to clear everything away before the short alpine summer finally ends.