The use of cartographic methods in research on cattle breeding systems for cheese P.D.O. production, in the Massif Central (France)

Abstract

Cartography is generally little used in the field ofbreeding activity, though it is interesting for visualisingspatialisation of this kind of activity which is linked tospace (grazing, forage harvest…). We chose to use cartographicmethods in research on cattle breeding systemswhere milk is used in cheese P.D.O. production, in the Massif Central (France). The data collected comefrom interviews of experts, geographical data and administrative files; they were treated with a Geographical Information System (G.I.S.) and statistical analysis.This scientific approach enabled us to get differentkinds of maps: overall maps (milk breeding zone typology), thematic maps spatialising qualitative variables(winter diet) or quantitative variables, in relative value(permanent grass percentage) or absolute value (milkquotas). Specific maps of each cheese P.D.O. enabled usto approach its coherence. The cartographic toolappears well adapted to the study of breeding activity ina P.D.O. context, because production is linked to anarea and its coherence comes from several factors. Thistool also enables to quickly get a global view and tocarry out spatial analysis of several themes. Moreover,the use of cartography that we present in this papercould be considered as an interesting methodologicalproposition for the study of some breeding activities.