The State of Vorarlberg on the Internet

Of approximately 105,000 hectares of the total alpine land area in 2004, some 53,000 hectares were in use as mountain pastures.  This represents more than half of the total useful agricultural land in Vorarlberg.  These figures alone reflect the particular significance of alpine farming for our farmers and the diversity of our cultural landscape.

1,061 alpine farmers spent the summer of 2004 on the alps, including 690 working on an independent basis and 371 externally hired workers.

39,250 animals grazed on the alpine summer pastures. At a total of 9,554, nearly 10,000 of these were dairy cattle.  Some 11 percent of these animals did not originate from Vorarlberg.

In 2004, 243,556 kilograms of alpine cheese produced on a total of 98 alps were distributed and promoted on the major cheese markets (this represents approximately 50 percent of total production).  A further 200,000 kilograms were marketed directly.  200,299 kilograms were sold under the label “Vorarlberg alpine cheese“, as a product with protected designation of origin.