"2011 is off to a good start to finish as one of the most significant droughts since 1864," the year when records began in Switzerland, said Olivier Duding, a climatologist from Swiss weather service Meteosuisse.

Across Switzerland, rainfall measured from January to date is half that of previous years' average.

Eastern Switzerland's ski resort of Sils-Maria has recorded the beginning of 2011 as the driest since records began.

In canton Zurich, officials began moving trout this week from the river Toess before their habitat dried up.

Meanwhile, cracked mud line the shores of western Switzerland's Lake Gruyere where water levels have also plunged.

According to Meteosuisse, the drought in western Switzerland over the last 12 months is as severe as those recorded in 1884 and 1921.

Several cantons have also imposed bans on lighting fire in and close to forests.

"It is very dry in Switzerland, there has been a snow shortage, a water shortage through winter," said Urs Vogt, who manages Suckler Cow Switzerland, an association which champions keeping calves with their mothers after birth.

Vogt warned that once the cows have fed on this spring's first greens, there may be little left for coming months, as "there is little growth in the prairies."

Farmers may have to turn to alternatives, such as hay, dried grass or corn silage, to feed their cattle, said Andreas Muenger, a scientist at the Federal Office for Agriculture's research body Agroscope.

The impact of the current drought will stretch through next winter.

Muenger explained that usually, "at this point of the year, there is too much grass," allowing farmers to "make hay for the winter."

The grass shortage therefore could lead to a fodder shortfall for next winter.

Nevertheless, Muenger said the situation has not reached disastrous proportions.

During a severe heatwave of 2003, the meadows were scorched and Swiss farmers were forced to import grass from abroad.

Farmers are now hoping for rain, which is expected next week.

However, Duding said that Switzerland would need more than just next week's few milimetres to end the drought.

What would be necessary, he said, is 100 to 200 milimetres of rain over several days to wash away the drought.

"Ideally three to four days of good rain," he added.

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