St. Gallen: Farmer Twins’ Cattle Auctioned Over Animal Welfare Violations

Authorities in Switzerland have been forced to auction off more than 100 cattle belonging to twin brothers in the Toggenburg region after years of animal welfare violations. The case, which came to a head in mid-February with the seizure and subsequent auction of the animals, underscores the seriousness with which Swiss cantons are addressing breaches of animal protection laws.

The brothers, who operate a farm in the Wattwil area, were issued a ban on keeping cattle due to repeated offenses. The auction represents a significant blow to their livelihood. According to the St. Galler Tagblatt, the canton considered the action a last resort.

One of the cows sold at auction is now residing on a farm in Horn TG. The new owners described the animal to the Tagblatt as calm, approachable and healthy. The farmer questioned why the canton removed the animal from the farm, suggesting that more support should have been offered to the brothers. She noted the considerable pressures already facing agricultural businesses, including increasing bureaucracy.

Farm clearings, but, are rare, according to Canton veterinarian Lukas Kenel. He explained to the Tagblatt that such actions are taken only after a lengthy process involving warnings, consultations, and attempts to resolve issues. He emphasized that errors can occur, and cooperation typically works well. A ban and eventual clearing only occur when repeated or serious violations of animal protection laws are observed and no willingness to change is shown.

Brothers Faced Previous Legal Issues

The twin brothers have a history of legal troubles in the region. They were previously convicted of polluting a drinking water source with manure on two separate occasions. In another incident, one of the brothers drove a tractor without a license and impersonated his identical twin during a police check, leading to the use of pepper spray and substantial fines. They also repeatedly violated animal welfare regulations.

The proceeds from the auction, after deducting fees, will go to the brothers. Authorities clarified that this is not a confiscation of assets. Kenel acknowledged the significant impact the situation has on the brothers, noting that their steep land is not well-suited for arable farming, but that options remain, such as employment on another farm or raising different types of livestock, as the ban only applies to cattle.

While the cattle appeared to be in good condition at the auction, Kenel cautioned that outward health does not always indicate adequate welfare. Issues like insufficient space or lack of outdoor access may not be immediately visible. “People can’t wait until animals are dying to capture action,” he said.

See something, hear something?

Send us your news tip!

Save our contact in your messenger of choice and send exciting videos, photos and documents directly to the 20-minute editorial team. If you send us photos or videos that lead to a new post, you will receive one of four gifts. More details can be found here.

If it is an accident or another misfortune, please first alert the emergency services.

Please note that the editorial team, in accordance with the publishing guidelines, only accepts images that have not been created using artificial intelligence. An exception is made only for illustrations of contributions on the subject of AI (e.g. AI challenges).

The use of your contributions by 20 minutes is regulated in our GTC: 20min.ch/agb

Reto Bollmann (bre), born in 1991, has been strengthening the 20-minute news desk as a reporter since the end of 2021. He has a preference for political, scientific and historical topics.