A single case of bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) was compensated last year, against thirty a year earlier. It is a notable fact which emerges from the 2024 report of Sanima, the establishment of insurance of the animal’s animals of Friborg.
“The trend towards a decrease is very positive,” says Guillaume Kolly, administrator of Sanima. “It is observed in other cantons as well.” The national BVD eradication campaign aims for total eradication in 2026. The disease that is propagated by saliva impacts dairy performance. She can cause death in some cases.
In the canton of Friborg, the epizootic has been tracked down since 2007. The establishment of a system of signaling lights – green, orange, red – in the animal database made it possible to better anticipate the risks during the travel of cattle. “According to this system, we look at where there is a risk of dissemination of the disease and prevent animals with the disease from being transported from one stable to another to prevent the disease from spreading.”
The threat of the blue language
But the year 2024 is not without clouds. As of September, the blue language returns to Switzerland, after several years of lull. Transmitted by flies, this viral disease mainly affects cattle and causes painful gearbox, fevers and inflammation.
“It is worrying. The disease has spread throughout the country. Fortunately, vaccination started this spring and should allow us to limit the damage,” fears Guillaume Kolly.
-In the canton, around twenty farms have been placed under receivers, and five animals have already been compensated. The evolution remains uncertain, but the health authorities remain on alert, dreading a second more virulent wave.
Fewer pigs in farms
Sanima’s report confirms a decline in staff in several categories of animals. 69,000, the pigs, in particular, recorded a significant drop of 2.4%, or almost 1,700 heads less than in 2023. “The pork is clearly in regression. The new standards of animal welfare and the drop in consumption make this production less attractive,” explains the manager.
Poultry, although very majority with more than 2.3 million heads, accuse a marginal drop (−0.1 %), while the cows are rather stable (around 133,000 animals). Only goats are growing, with a slight increase (+0.1 %), as well as sheep and even llamas holders (66).
Dairy farming: towards stabilization
On the cattle side, the figures show a certain lull in decrease. In ten years, 363 farms have closed, but the pace of disappearance slowed down. “The new buildings offer better working conditions and animal welfare. The tools have modernized. This contributes to stabilizing dairy farming,” notes Guillaume Kolly. “Despite the constraints, this sector resists better than you feared.”
With more than a million francs paid into compensation in 2024, Sanima remains on the front line against the sanitary vagaries. In addition, Sanima also compensated 18 cattle who died following lightnings. Note that no insured animal perished in a fire, unlike last year.
