Alpine countries such as Switzerland and Liechtenstein have benefited from hemp's ability to enable cows to produce more and better milk.

Farmers particularly appreciate the fact that hemp is cheap and easy to cultivate.

However, the Agriculture Ministry claims that THC -- a key active substance in cannabis grown for drug purposes -- is in danger of entering the human food chain and poses a health risk to humans.

Of particular concern is that Swiss cheese -- an iconic symbol of the country -- could be contaminated with THC.

Hemp is a common name for common cannabis and the name most used when the plant is grown for industrial purposes.

Although the hemp strains being fed to cattle are extremely low in THC, the Ministry warns that farmers caught using hemp fodder will be prosecuted.

“Many of the cows are stressed nowadays," Liechtenstein hemp farmer Jean-Pierre Egger said. "If they eat hemp, they calm down. Now, a milk cow which is calm produces better milk. That is a fact.”