Species-appropriate livestock farming.

This means, firstly, that purely for the sake of quality, the animals grow at the rate nature intended. While the absence of growth hormones means that the animals reach their "usability" later, the resulting food products are completely free of contaminants.

Secondly, the farmers ensure that the animals have plenty of space to roam, which they can enjoy to the fullest due to their extended lifespan. Their musculature develops naturally as a result; stress, which inevitably arises in mass rearing under cramped conditions, is consistently avoided.

Pet food: Best if home-grown

The animals around Lake Wolfgang are fed almost exclusively organic food. Pigs and poultry are fed mostly untreated grain grown on the farm or sourced from the region. Cattle, goats, and sheep (ruminants) are free to graze on lush meadows most of the time – and this is essential for them.

Ruminants possess a complex system of four stomachs in which their plant-based food is broken down by bacteria; this is how they can utilize the cellulose, which grasses and leaves consist of, for energy production. While plant fibers contain plenty of valuable nutrients, these are not so easily extracted and absorbed by the body. Most living beings with only one stomach, including humans,

They could not live off it, unlike cows.

Ruminants also enjoy eating hay. Many farmers therefore feed their cattle, sheep, and goats in winter with dried grass from the same meadows where the animals graze during the warmer months. Untreated grass – whether fresh or dried – is considered the healthiest food for ruminants; it is rich in nutrient-dense wild herbs that contribute to a long lifespan for the animals and ultimately result in healthy food.

Hay milk is therefore particularly rich in valuable omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, which support cell regeneration in humans. Moreover, it tastes excellent, as the flavor compounds from the wild herbs accumulate in the milk, giving it a savory aroma. Whether eaten plain or in the form of cheese, butter, or cream: you'll notice the difference compared to products made from conventional milk immediately! (see http://www.warum-heumilch.com/)

An alternative to feeding grass or hay is silage. Silage is also made from grass, which is only partially dried and then fermented in silos to preserve it (much like sauerkraut production). Hay can only be produced if it is dry long enough; silage, on the other hand, can be produced even in bad weather and is somewhat more convenient for the farmer (no hay turning, etc.). Furthermore, silage provides the livestock with more energy overall, resulting in higher milk yields and weight gain. However, this comes at the cost of lower overall quality, which affects the feed produced. (cf. Buchgraber, p. 27)

Most farmers around Lake Wolfgang rely entirely on hay and grass, or on a combination with home-produced silage during the winter months. They largely avoid feeding industrially produced, protein-rich concentrated feed – such as soy-based feed. This is because the resulting "performance improvements" in livestock ultimately come at the expense of quality; moreover, the soy used is often genetically modified and therefore has no place in organic farming. (cf. http://www.wwf.de/themen-projekte/landwirtschaft/ernaehrung-konsum/fleisch/soja-als-futtermittel/).

Natural feeding with what the land provides has proven successful in the region around Lake Wolfgang for centuries. Farmers here have known since time immemorial that only a genuine relationship with animals and nature can produce quality.