Division 3.4 Feed (for products of animal origin only)

The dairy cows’ basic intake comprises grass grazed throughout the growing period, and during the winter hay or second-cut hay likewise harvested in the geographical area.

In order to guarantee a close link between the region and the product by specific feed from the geographical area, supplementary feed is limited to 1 800 kg per dairy cow per year. On the holding, the grazing area actually used must be at least equal to 1 hectare per dairy cow.

In order to maintain the traditional practice of grazing, farm production systems where all the feed is supplied in troughs are forbidden. The dairy cows graze after the snow has melted and as soon as the soils’ bearing capacity allows. In the grazing season, the cows in production use at least 20 acres of grassland per dairy cow. These restrictions mean that at least 70 % of the feed comes from the geographical area.

Fermented fodder, whether silage products or other, are not to be used in the feed of the dairy herd at any time of the year owing to the technological risks related to these practices during the production and maturing of cheeses.

Only raw materials and supplementary feed derived from non-transgenic products are authorised for the dairy herd so as to preserve the traditional nature of the feed.