The day normally begins at about 6 a.m. for Adrian and his father, Hans, when they head to the alp to milk the goats and cows. But today is different: for the past two nights, they couldn’t herd the goats back to their shed because the terrain they were on was far too steep. So, they got to enjoy total freedom. The animals can always move around the alp freely and eat where they wish. “We do our best, but sometimes it’s too steep for us and we cannot reach the goats. Then they have to stay outdoors overnight,” explains Adrian, a little worried. At around 10 a.m., Adrian and Hans head out again with their three herding dogs in search of their goats…
“The more goats in a herd, the higher they climb.”
Adrian Mäder
All 86 goats are safely back in the shed – Adrian’s 13 and an additional 73 from other farmers in the region who send their goats to Alp Bire over the summer months. Hans and Adrian are clearly relieved. “It’s not unheard of for a goat to be attacked by a dog or another animal overnight,” says Adrian, adding: “But they are a big herd of goats and the strongest will protect the weakest. A herd always sticks together!” Now the real work can begin…