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With participation from Organised by :

Under the high patronage of

With financial support from

And support from

« SELECTING, DIVERSIFYING, ADAPTING AND

VALUING BREEDS »

WHY AN INTERNATIONAL GATHERING STUDYING SHEEP AND GOATS

?

An unmatched occasion based on the sheep sector generally and local mountain breeds in

particular, the Festival de la Brebis (Ewe Festival) used to be organized every four years at the

Lycée Agricole de Saint-Affrique (Aveyron/France). This Festival has now been replaced by

the first Carrefour International Ovin/Caprin (international forum on sheep and goats)

(CIOC).

The four organising partners are : Unité Pour la RAce Lacaune (UPRA Lacaune), the COllectif

des RAces locales des Massifs (CORAM) and the Lycée Agricole La Cazotte de Saint-Affrique

(Aveyron). The goat sector, which faces similar problems to those in sheep rearing, is also

involved in the forum thanks to the participation of Capgènes (an organization advising and

dealing with goat selection).

This forum, on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 April 2015 at

Saint-Affrique, will enable participants to study in depth

the genetic choice of these small ruminants, whether for

dairy farming or breeding. Maintaining the animals on the

land, breeding viability and attracting people to the

profession all need economic cost effectiveness which

itself most especially requires constant improvement in

handling the flocks (breeding techniques, adapting to

environment, hardiness…). Sustaining a maximum of

breeds of these little ruminants, keeping them on their

native land and their development all rely on the

technical/economic results of stock farming, as well as on

genetic development.

During the ‘Carrefour’ the CIOC will stress the challenge and importance of maintaining the

diversity of ‘local’ small ruminant breeds in France and internationally. Insofar as managing

and selecting flocks and herds of sheep and goats is concerned in the principal milk or meat

producing countries, the CIOC will enable breeders, professionals, scientists, technicians,

administrators and elected representatives to become up-to-date with modern techniques

and technologies. It will be an outstanding opportunity to share and exchange the

information and experiences of different countries, covering not only the management of

local breeds but an occasion for participants from all over the world to question and study

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guidelines in such areas as genetics and selection. Most particularly it will allow participants

to analyze the possibility of intensifying work in connexion with animal population

management and protection, the organization of countrywide communal links, and scientific

studies of the two species in their natural habitats.

The objective is to increase the level of

awareness both politically and technically of

the importance of selecting small ruminants

which are genetically suited to territorial and

local constraints. This will lead to the launch

of an information exchange network and

international cooperation. At a time of

reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, of

international initiatives in favour of the

maintenance of agricultural biodiversity, or

of localized land ownership (the

International Year of Family Agriculture), this

forum will combine both conviviality and

dynamism, with numerous workshops and

visits designed to encourage and develop exchanges and meetings.

This occasion will be focused principally on sheep and goat breeding and the networks of the

Massif Central to bear witness to the French experience in genetic potential, the savoir-faire

and competence born out in management methods, the selection and value enhancement of

the flocks and herds of small ruminants.

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WHY AT SAINT AFFRIQUE ?

The Carrefour is being held :

- at the centre of an area essentially devoted to sheep production (the zone

of milk production for AOP Roquefort cheese)

- close to the ‘Causses et Cévennes’, the countryside of Mediterranean agro-

pastoralism classified as a UNESCO world heritage site. Stretching over 302,319

hectares to the south of the Massif Central, it consists of mountainous land

scattered with deep valleys, forming the divergent situations of agro-pastoral land

and their biophysical environment.

- at the heart of the Midi Pyrenees, the Languedoc Roussillon and the

Auvergne, it is home to 30% of France’s sheep and some 14,000 breeders.

- on the site of the Lycée de la Cazotte which specializes in education about

sheep and whose agricultural land is well suited to this conference.

View of the town of Saint-Affrique

The UPRA Lacaune experience, its close links with AOP Roquefort and the self-

sustaining amenities in the area and on the land, will be definite proof of the interest

in and impact of such a development. The CIOC will draw on this successful

example, visualizing and analysing it with workshops on the land, helping

participants understand the motivating forces, encouraging sharing and exchange of

experiences, and to take part in open debate.

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TAKING PART

Around 400 participants are expected : breeders, specialists from selection organizations,

researchers, advisers and professional agriculturalists coming mainly from France, Europe,

around the Mediterranean and the Pacific.

Carrefour International will bring together breeders and researchers from all backgrounds and

sectors. It will be a shop window of technologies implementing different methods of sheep

breeding internationally.

HOW THE CARREFOUR WILL TACKLE ISSUES ?

1. Bring together specialists and those working with small ruminants on the ground in a

multi-disciplinary framework, mobilizing them to examine an international approach.

2. Initiate debate, exchange experiences, adding value to existing savoir faire, sharing

knowledge on breed selection and types of organization.

3. Underline the importance of breed diversity : create a synergy between local breeds

to encourage global development.

4. Raise awareness and provide evidence that maintaining small ruminants can be at

the root of developing a durable local economy.

5. Encourage dialogue between breeders, specialists and scientific researchers, so vital

in defining and recognizing complementary and common objectives

EXPECTED RESULTS

o Produce a review of the current situation concerning genetic diversity and choice in

connexion with sheep and goat breeds

o Assemble and express the efforts of the different sectors in connexion with genetic

selection so as to create priorities and follow up research in fields such as

innovation/training/popularization

o Define strategies to add economic value to small ruminants

o Set up and launch the first international network dealing with genetic selection, adding

value to small ruminants and concentrating on common problems and projects.

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o Highlight the strong points of small ruminants, their breeding and sectors.

o Formulate proposals put together with the participants, especially those stressing the

place of small ruminants in agricultural and rural politics

o Collectively initiate strategies bearing on breed selection so as to emphasise the need

to improve technical, economic and environmental approaches to small ruminants.

This conference will be an ideal occasion to study French and international research and create an

approach which will be a model for the sheep and goat breeding sectors for the next ten years. The

organizers plan to mobilize the leading specialists in the subject who will lead the meetings and

workshops which will take place over the two days of the Carrefour, and cover a large choice of

themes.

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THE PROGRAMME (Subject to modification)

Wednesday 8 april 2015

9h15 – Registering of participants

10h00 – Welcome by the organisers

10h30 - Presentation of issues and role of the CIOC

Speakers :

� Mr Etienne Verrier, Agro Paris Tech/INRA

� Messers Jean Luc Chauvel and Luc Estienne, France, Genetic breeding

Around the following areas :

- What does genetic selection achieve ? On which fundamentals should it be

based ? For what results ? How to organize it ?

- How to get the best out of genetic selection ? What links between research,

innovation and popularization ?

- How can research/development support breeders ? How to favour and

encourage genetic action by breeders ?

11h15 – Testimonies by participants and international experience exchanges led by Mr

Maurice Barbezant, late Director of UNCEIA (national Union of breeding and animal

insemination cooperatives)

- What do we learn from world wide practice : Opportunities to examine

genetic improvement programmes with presentation of international experience.

Debate with the audience

12h30 – Comment by official personalities and presentation of afternoon projects.

13h30 – Lunch based on local products

15h00 – Workshops, reflexions and themed exchanges with trips illustrating local

experience in the Saint-Affrique region.

19h00 – End of workshops and return by coach to Saint-Affrique

20h00 – Settling into hotels

21h00 – Convivial evening

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4 WORK PROJECTS BASED ON 8 THEMED VISITS

In order to illustrate the type of work carried out in the CIOC framework, on Wednesday afternoon visits covering each breed will be organised near Saint Affrique (animal insemination centres, experimental farms, sheep and goat holdings) based on the following themes :

MANAGING STOCK NUMBERS AND BREED SELECTION : What selection criteria for which objectives in conjunction with different

productionsystems ?

PRODUCTS AND ADDING VALUE TO BREEDS : How to put a value on breeds ?

INNOVATION What are the innovatory technologies and strategies which help preserve the

specificity of small ruminants ?

SOCIAL LINKS, GOVERNANCE AND ORGANISATION How does one organise relationships and exchanges between different members of

the genetic network ?

HOW THE THEMED VISITS ARE ORGANISED

Each workshop will consist of some thirty participants led by a guide and a reporter whose role is to write a summary of the events, the contributions and recommendations. These will be presented at the plenary session on Thursday afternoon. Workshop content will concentrate on introductory statements of relevant facts, the acquisition of ideas, site visits and the experience of individual participants who will be invited to react and share their understanding or testimony. Each workshop will be divided into 2 groups for visits. So as to maximize information exchange and keep travel time to a minimum, only one visit will take place. At the visits’ end there will be witness reports and comments on the various workshop themes. English translation is guaranteed at the workshops.

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PRESENTATION OF THE 8 TRIPS

1 THEME = 2 CHOICES OF VISITS

Issues :

What selection criteria for which objectives in conjunction with different production systems ?

Adapting breeds according to production constraints (economic, breeding types, difficult environment, production specifications)

Resources

Visit to chosen breeding establishment

Summary – Context

Where this fits into management of breeding type, adapting breeds to the

environment.

Objectives

To illustrate the contribution of selection in adapting breeds to types of

production in the interest of breeders and their networks.

Key words

Selection Objectives, types of production

Visit 1 :

- Breeder of milk ewes near Saint-Affrique, introduction to a Lacaune milk producer including on site selection criteria based on breed, selection objectives and anticipated results for the breeder in his production system.

- Discussion : breeding and selecting, end user, production chain, territory.

Visit 2 :

- Visit to milk producing ewe or goat farm

- Discussion : . breeding and selecting, end user, production chain, territory.

MANAGING STOCK NUMBERS AND BREED SELECTION :

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PRODUCTS AND ADDING VALUE TO BREEDS

Issues : How to put a value on breeds ?

Resources

Business end users in the chain

Summary – Context

Link between breeds, products, land

Linking the genetic chain

Impact of maintaining breeds on local economy

Objectives

Emphasise tools enabling processing of and adding value to products

from specific breeds

Key words

Official marks of quality, labeling, meat and milk sectors, valuing

Visit 1 :

- Milk sector : Caves de Roquefort for its links with the Lacaune breed and the AOP Roquefort cheese

- Discussion : from breeder to consumer, producer, Roquefort inter-professionals

Visit 2 :

- Meat sector : abattoir or cutting plant or the producers’ organisation (Organisation de Producteurs :OP)

- Discussion : breeders, sector management, technical worker …

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L’INNOVATION

Issues : What are the innovatory technologies and strategies which help preserve the specificity of small ruminants ?

Resources

Visit to experimental farm and the Entreprise de Sélection (ES)

Summary – Context

How can technology be useful in preserving the specificity of small

ruminants? What are future plans and strategies?

Objectives

The importance of innovation in a small specific sector (comparing the

cost of technology with the price of the animal…)

Key words

Innovation, technology

Visit 1 :

- One of the two animal insemination centres of the Roquefort basin (contribution of reproduction technologies, extent of usage, evaluating reproducers, for the development of managing genetic programmes).

- Discussion with managers of genetic schemes (sucklers or milk producers)

Visit 2 :

To the INRA experimental farm, La Fage, on benefits emanating from research and innovation in schemes for selecting milk producing or suckling sheep.

- Discussion with INRA researchers

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SOCIAL LINKS, GOVERNANCE AND ORGANISATION

Visit 1 :

- The Lycée La Cazotte farm combines training, experimentation and selection. Represents a link between sector partners for a common project.

- Discussion : head of operations, professional managers, INRA, IDELE, territories , Selection Organisation (Organisme de Sélection :OS).

Visit 2 :

- Centre for Animal Insemination (CIA), organisation and management of a genetic scheme covering all selection methods.

- Discussion : managers, the Selection Organisation (OS) and the Selection Enterprise (ES), responsible for genetic schemes.

Issues : How to organise relationships and exchanges between different members of the

genetic network ?

Resources

Visit the Lycée de La Cazotte farm/ Centre for Animal Insemination

Summary – Context

Relationship selection/end user. Relationship between research and

world networks. Who profits from genetic progress ? How to reconcile

general and individual interest ?

Objectives

Prioritise the organisation of a genetic scheme between the different

players (breeders – selection organizations (OS) – Selection enterprises

(ES) – research and development …) and the importance of a common

project.

Key words

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Thursday 9 April 2015

9h – Opening of second day by organization officials,

9h15 – Study session on :

Sucklers and milk producers, presentation of international experiences and

debate ,

11h30 - Break

12h – Themed discussions initiated by the organisers and/or participants

13h00 - Lunch

15h00 – Summing up, summaries and recommendation of the workshops in plenary

session by the recorders of the four themes.

Assessment and way ahead, the Carrefour conclusions

16h30 – End of work

During the 2 days of the Carrefour International, there will be

animals on site at the Lycée Agricole de La Cazotte to illustrate a

selection of different breeds.

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THE ORGANISERS

The Lycee Agricole la Cazotte is a public teaching establishment which

has, since 1970, trained potential breeders and technicians in the

Roquefort sector. Situated in Saint-Affrique, it will welcome those

attending the forum by putting its infrastructure at their disposal. It

also manages an on site activity hub based on sheep known as PASTORALIA, whose personnel

are involved in the organization of the CIOC.

Lycée Agricole La Cazotte / Pastoralia - Bénédicte RIGAL - benedicte.rigal@educagri.fr Tél : 00

33 (0)5 65 98 10 23

UPRA Lacaune is an agency involved in selection of Lacaune breeds for milk and

meat, and breeding with low manpower (Races à Petits Effectifs RPE). It

provides technical structure support and coordinates genetic work, and is also

involved in the problems facing the milk producing sector, sucklers (Lacaune meat breeds

and RPE) and, linked to products with official quality recognition (SOQ) : labeling, AOP

Roquefort, on the mountainous zones; it collaborates with inter-racial and inter regional

activities.It is recognized internationally for its successful work with milk producing

genetics.

UPRA Lacaune - Gilles FREGEAT - fregeat.upra@wanadoo.fr -

Tél : 0033(0)5 65 73 78 14

The COllectif des RAces de Massifs (CORAM) is responsible for

coordinating, representing and promoting local breeds of cattle,

sheep (both milk and meat producing) with roots on French mountainous countryside.

est l’union d’organisme de sélection chargée de coordonner, de représenter et de

promouvoir les races locales bovines, ovines, laitières et allaitantes des massifs français.

CORAM - Emeric JOUHET - Coram@racesdefrance.fr - Tél. : 00 33 (0)5 61 75 44 49

www.racedefrance.com

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THE CARREFOUR INTERNATIONAL OVIN CAPRIN

IS ORGANISED UNDER THE HIGH PATRONAGE OF

WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF

WITH SUPPORT FROM :

AND ALL UNDER THE OVERALL FRAMEWORK OF

WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF

USEFUL INFORMATION

CONTACTS and INSCRIPTIONS

- CORAM - Emeric JOUHET - Tél. 05 61 75 44 49 - Coram@racesdefrance.fr

www.races-montagnes.com/fr/collectif/presentation-chiffres-cles.php

- Lycée Agricole La Cazotte / Pastoralia - Bénédicte RIGAL - Tél :05 65 98 10 23

Benedicte.rigal@educagri.fr - www.pastoralia.fr

- UPRA Lacaune - Gilles FREGEAT - Tél : 05 65 73 78 14 - fregeat.upra@wanadoo.fr

www.brebis-lacaune.monsite-orange.fr/

SUBSCRIPTION LEVELS

- 2 days : with meals: 140 € / - without meals : 100 €

(Lower charge of 120 € (not valid with other offers) for reservation confirmed before

30 March or for more than 4 participants

Breeders 2 days with meals : 100 €

Students 2 days without meals : 20 € - 1 day with meals : 70 € / without

meals : 50 €

By car : 2h de Toulouse, 1h30 de Montpellier. 2h30 de Clermont Ferrand ou Brive -

proximité A75

Railway station SNCF : Millau

Airports : Toulouse, Montpellier, Rodez