How much does a cow cost in Switzerland and can you buy one? 🐄💰

Living in Switzerland, surrounded by alpine landscapes full of cows with bells around their necks, I asked myself the question: what if I wanted to buy a cow? How much would it cost? Can I even do that? It turns out to be more complicated than I thought – but also fascinating!

Cows in Switzerland

How much does a cow cost in Switzerland?
The price of a cow in Switzerland depends on many factors: breed, age, purpose of breeding (milk, meat, reproduction) and… well, her CV 😄

1. Young replacement heifer
If you want a cow that will give milk and calves, you need to buy a replacement heifer – a young female that has not calved yet.

The cost of such a heifer in Switzerland is on average around CHF 3,123 (approx. 13,000 PLN) Women's Health

But beware! That’s only the purchase price. Additionally, you must consider:

• Feed (hay in winter, pastures in summer)

• Veterinary care

• Insemination or renting a bull 🐂

• Maintenance of barn/pastures

2. Fattening cow / for slaughter
If you want a cow for meat (or you’re buying it for resale), the price depends on live weight.

The indicative price per kilogram of live cattle weight in Switzerland is CHF 2.55–2.71 per kg Wikipedia

Which means that if a cow weighs 600 kg, then:
600 kg × 2.60 CHF = ~1,560 CHF (approx. 6,500 PLN)

Fun fact: Cows in Switzerland are treated so well that their average weight is higher than in many other countries – they are well-fed, healthy, happy. This translates directly into price!

Fun facts about “buying a cow” in Switzerland

1. A cow is an investment, not an impulse purchase
In Switzerland you don’t just buy a cow “on a whim.” It’s not like buying a cat from a breeder.
A cow is a long-term investment – it lives 15–20 years, requires daily care, veterinary costs, feed (up to 50 kg of hay a day in winter!), and… well, a lot of space.

2. “Replacement heifer” – the successor
The term “replacement heifer” refers to a young heifer that replaces an older cow in a dairy herd. In Switzerland, dairy farms must regularly renew their herds – older cows stop producing milk and “retire” (go to slaughter or return to their original breeding farm). Young heifers take their place.

3. Cows have CVs and pedigrees
Seriously! In Switzerland, each breeding cow has a pedigree – her parents, grandparents, great-grandparents are known. The best cows have “star genealogies” – their milk yield, fertility, and health are superior, so they cost more.

The most expensive heifers can cost 10,000–15,000 CHF (40,000–60,000 PLN)!

4. Hérens cows are expensive stars
Remember the Hérens cows from Valais that participate in the “queen fights”? These cows can cost far more than an average dairy cow – especially if they win competitions. A winning cow can be worth 20,000–30,000 CHF!

It’s like buying a racehorse – you pay for potential, character, and prestige.

Cows in Switzerland — Where can you buy a cow?

1. Directly from a farmer
The most common way – you go to a local farmer and ask: “Do you have a heifer for sale?” Farmers often sell young cows when they have a surplus.

Pros: You can see the cow live, meet her “family,” and check the conditions she has been kept in.
Cons: You need to find the farmer, arrange a visit, negotiate.

2. Agricultural associations
In Switzerland, several organizations bring together cattle farmers, for example:

• Mutterkuh Schweiz (beef cattle)

• Swissherdbook (dairy cattle breeders’ association)

These organizations can help find a suitable cow and assist with the transaction.

3. Agricultural listing portals
Yes, Switzerland has classified ads websites where cows are listed for sale. It’s like OLX, but for cows 😄

Examples:

• Agropool – portal for farmers

• Agroline – shop and listing site

• Local agricultural markets (various cantons)

4. Cattle auctions
From time to time, auctions of breeding cattle take place, where you can buy heifers, calves, or young bulls. These are professional events – usually for experienced breeders.

What requirements must be met to buy a cow?

This is where it gets interesting – not everyone can simply buy a cow.

1. You must be a registered agricultural producer
To legally keep cattle in Switzerland, you must:

• Be registered as a farmer (Landwirt) or agricultural producer

• Have appropriate pastures or a barn (approved by local authorities)

• Meet animal welfare standards (Tierschutzgesetz)

In other words: You can’t buy a cow “for fun” and keep it on your balcony 😄

2. The cow must be tagged and registered
Every cow in Switzerland has:

• An ear tag with an identification number

• A passport (yes, cows have passports!)

• An entry in the central database (Tierverkehrsdatenbank – TVD)

When you buy a cow, you must report the change of ownership within 3 days.
Swiss precision also applies to cows!

3. Housing requirements
Swiss animal welfare regulations are among the strictest in the world. A cow must have:

• At least 6 m² of barn space (depending on breed)

• Access to pasture in summer (minimum 26 days per year outdoors)

• Daily care, water, feed

• Regular veterinary check-ups

Fun fact: It is forbidden to keep a single cow alone – cows are herd animals, so you must have at least two (or another companion animal like a goat or sheep). Loneliness is considered cruelty!

4. Quality certificates (if you want to sell products)
If you plan to sell milk or meat, you may need certificates:

• Mutterkuh Schweiz – beef cattle certification

• Bio Suisse – organic farming

• IP-SUISSE – sustainable production

How much does owning a cow REALLY cost?

Purchase is one thing. Maintenance is another.
Here are approximate annual costs:

That’s around 9,000–14,000 PLN annually – plus your time (daily feeding, milking, cleaning the barn).

🐄 Summary: Is it worth buying a cow in Switzerland?

If you’re a farmer, have pastures, and experience – absolutely!
A cow is a wonderful animal that gives milk, cheese, meat, and… tons of joy (and bells 🔔).

If you're thinking, "I'll buy a cow for the weekend" – no.
A cow is a 24/7 commitment. You can’t go on vacation without arranging care. You can’t “take a break” from milking.

But if you dream of living with cows?
Switzerland is the perfect place – cows here have better living conditions than in most countries, they are respected and well-treated. And the sight of a cow on an alpine meadow at sunrise? Priceless. 💚🐄

Sources:

Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Swiss livestock statistics
Swiss Farmers’ Union – cattle price reports
Agroscope – studies on cattle breeds and milk production
Mutterkuh Schweiz – breed information and price ranges
Swissherdbook – dairy cattle data and pedigree systems
Tierverkehrsdatenbank (TVD) – cattle registration requirement
Agropool.ch / Agroline.ch – cattle sale listings
Agristat (SBV) – agricultural economic data
Federal Animal Welfare Act (Tierschutzgesetz)