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Basco-Bearnais
French
EFABIS Data
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International Name |
Basco-Bearnais |
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Local Name |
Basco-Bearnaise |
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Location |
Pyrenees and Sud-Ouest |
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Breeding females
(year) |
80.000 |
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Trend of population size |
Decreasing |
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Flock book established |
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Origin – history
This breed is well
suited to major transhumance and for many years it has represented
the link between the high peaks of the Pyrenees and the vineyards
where the great wines of the Bordeaux region are made. Its origins
have been lost amid the numerous episodes of warfare associated with
the history of the Pyrenees.
Breed description
This breed is well
suited to major transhumance and for many years it has represented
the link between the high peaks of the Pyrenees and the vineyards
where the great wines of the Bordeaux region are made. Its origins
have been lost amid the numerous episodes of warfare associated with
the history of the Pyrenees.
Each summer, the flocks live alongside the Manech breeds (Black
Faced and Red-Faced). They are suitable for out of season breeding,
and lambing takes place from October to April. Its capacity for milk
production and its great ease of milking have allowed stockbreeders
in the Bearn region to create a pressed sheep’s cheese that has now
earned its own designation of origin: “Ossau-Iraty”, and all the
ewes are kept as pure-bred. Lambs weaned at the age of 1 month are
appreciated for celebration meals such as Easter.
The Basco-Bearnais is white with both sexes having slightly curled
horns. They have medium fleece coverage, with the legs free from
fleece. The mature rams weigh 80kg, and the ewes weigh 55kg.
Conservation activities
First
established in 1975, the selective breeding plan for the
Basco-Bearnais is similar to that of the Manech breeds. It aims to
retain the breed as part of the farming and upkeep of open land in
the mountains. The selection is supported by UPRA des races ovines
laitieres des Pyrenees and a milk selection programme run by the
UPRA des races ovines laitieres des Pyrenees, which relies on
artificial insemination. An annual genetic progress of 3 litres of
milk has been achieved. The average production of milk over the
official milked recorded flock is 144 litres (2004) after weaning of
the lamb at 35 days. It varies according to age but progresses
regularly by 3 litres per year. In 20 years the milk collection from
these breeds has more than doubled. The selective breeding plan for
the milking breeds allows stockbreeders to achieve levels of
productivity that fully justify such livestock farming in these
difficult areas. This plan uses the monitoring of milk and
widespread use of artificial insemination in selective breeding
flocks and a breeding centre situated at Ordiarp (Pyrenees-Atlantiques),
where every year 70 young rams from planned matings are assembled.
Among these, 40 are tested on the milk output (quantity and now also
composition) of their female offspring in the farms of the selection
nucleus. The best of these are used in artificial insemination and
as priority in planned matings with the 1500 ram dams, to produce
the new generation of males. Now, the selection scheme i produce
important genetic advances.
Contact: UPRA
DES RACES OVINES LAITIERES DES PYRENEES Quartier Ahetzia 64 130
Ordiarp - France Tél : +33 (0)5 59 28 19 90
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