According to the government,”the law that has become superfluous has existed since 1947 and was last revised 30 years ago.” The original purpose of the law was to provide compensation to cattle owners for losses incurred due to illness or accident.

The canton was structured into insurance groups, largely mirroring the political communities. Within these groups, cattle owners established cooperative insurance organizations to manage the funds.

Though, the government council stated in its response to the motion, published on Tuesday, that “In the meantime, there are no longer such cattle insurance funds in the canton of Lucerne.” The council noted that cattle farmers now have the option to insure their animals through market-based insurance companies.

The government council intends to abolish the law on cattle insurance as part of the ongoing comprehensive revision of the Cantonal Agriculture Act.

impact on Farmers

The abolition of the law is not expected to negatively impact farmers, as they now have access to a wider range of insurance options through private companies. This shift reflects a modernization of agricultural practices and risk management in the canton of Lucerne.

“the law that has become superfluous has existed since 1947 and was last revised 30 years ago.”

Past Context

The law’s origins date back to a time when private insurance options for cattle were limited. The cooperative model provided a safety net for farmers, ensuring they could recover from unexpected losses. However, with the evolution of the insurance market, this system has become obsolete.