Dairy-sheep production in France : main objectives of research and development and the conditions under which they are carried out

Abstract

In France, the dairy-sheep production is based on classical systems with both suckled lambs and registrated (AOC) or farmhouse cheeses. This production enables the maintenance of a rural population through the development of economical activity in three different mountainous regions, namely, the south of Massif Central (Roquefort Area), the Atlantic Pyrenees and Corsica. In the 70’s an improvement of ewes’ productivity, of the flock size and of the farmworkers (particularly in milking efficiency) was assigned. These objectives were largely reached in 1990 : the average flock size has tripled since 1970 and milk production has doubled, while farmers turned to be more specialized by selling milk from the farm, whereas some of them continued to produce farmhouse cheese in some areas. The impact of breeding and animal reproductive physiology has had a paramount effect in this remarkable evolution, in three complementary domains : milking machines adaptation to dairy ewes, control of reproduction by means of artificial insemination and selection of local breeds within their native regions. In 1990, 75% of ewe-milk production of France came from milk-recorded flocks, which is a great asset with respect to international results. Logically, objectives of research and development will evolve for next decade, given that the relationships between different regions of production will be reinforced, as well as local breeds performances and AOC cheese conditions of production. These new objectives and their being put into effects are described in this article. The willingness of professional partners to reinforce the link between research and development resulted in the common foundation of the "Comité National Brebis Laitières", i.e. Dairy Ewes’ National Commitee, in 1991.