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Switzerland is known worldwide for its picturesque landscapes, high-quality products and sustainable practices. An exemplary example of Swissness and the harmonious interplay of humans, animals and nature is the Freihof in the canton of Thurgau, which has been managed by the Küng family for four generations. Everything here revolves around animal welfare and gentle field management.
The Freihof attaches great importance to the well-being of its animals and biodiversity. Here you can even find your own flower cutting field, which not only delights the senses, but also provides delicious pollen to local insects in particular. A lovingly designed insect hotel rounds off the ecological concept. This is by no means all that Freihof has to offer: In addition to regional food, its own farm shop offers hand-picked decorative items that make every visitor's heart beat faster.
“As a dairy farmer, I am of course delighted to know that high-quality products are made from our Swiss milk.”
Happy cows on lush summer pastures in the wild
Tight spaces and stinky in the stable? Not an issue for the 80 cows in the Freihof. The ladies are allowed to graze outside in the pasture for at least 200 days a year. And in theory, each of them can claim 10 aren for themselves; if they want to at all. Because as herd animals, they prefer to exercise together in the fresh air during the day — both essential for their health.
Except in summer. They prefer to graze at night from 19:00 to 05:15 because cows prefer colder temperatures. That is why Ueli Küng has installed two extra large fans in his stable for the hot days.
Strong bonds between animals and humans
Ueli is particularly fond of Adele, Beresina and Fanny. They have become companions for him, as he has known the three of them for many years. Adele is at the proud age of 11, Berezina is 10 and Fanny has 8 years behind her horns.
But the farm is not only home to cows — it is also home to 2 dogs, 4 cats and 120 laying hens, which illustrates the harmonious coexistence between farm and domestic animals. Every animal on the farm has a name, because animals on the Freihof are not numbers — they are part of a deep bond.
A look behind the milk supply
Ueli milks his cows twice a day. This results in an impressive 700,000 kg of top-quality milk, the result of careful care for its animals and a sustainable approach to agriculture.
Ueli no longer milks his cows by hand or with a robot; he prefers a modern milking machine. This simplifies his work and at the same time enables him to stay close to his cows and to look after them individually. The daily milking routine, which Ueli undertakes himself, promotes close ties between him and his animals.
Focus on sustainability
Sustainability is lived down to the last detail at Freihof. The Küng family is proud of this. The “IP Suisse” and “swissmilk green” labels as well as the “RAUS” animal welfare programs (REgelmässger Offrun outdoors) and “BTS” (BEonders teer-friendly Sfarming systems) testify to their commitment to sustainable agriculture. It is also important for the Küngs to carefully care for their pastures in order to preserve biological diversity. Adele, Beresina, Fanny and their flock companions deserve this. After all, they provide one of the most important raw materials for young and old.
What does Ueli like about his job? ”As a farmer, you can work very independently and, apart from fixed milking times, manage the time yourself. I also enjoy working with animals and the diversity of my job.”
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