Biodiversity 2 min

Preserving native Pyrenean sheep

By improving the competitiveness and sustainability of local dairy sheep breeds in cooperation with Spain, the Genetics, Physiology and Livestock Systems laboratory (GenPhySE) at the INRAE Occitanie-Toulouse center is ensuring that these breeds are maintained in the Pyrenean area. ARDI2 is a cross-border cooperation project funded by the Interreg POCTEFA 2021-2027 program, capitalizing on the results obtained under a previous POCTEFA project, ARDI.

Published on 12 September 2024

illustration Preserving native Pyrenean sheep
© INRAE

Native dairy sheep breeds of Pyrenees - Latxa, Manech and Basco-Béarnaise - are of great economic, social and environmental value, but their survival is threatened by the presence of other breeds with much more intensive production systems.

The objective of ARDI2 is to optimize the common management methodology of genetic improvement programs for the native Latxa and Manech sheep breeds by introducing new technologies, consolidating the French-Spanish European Economic Interest Grouping (ARTALDEAN EEIG), and defining new genomic evaluation models that increase the sustainability of the systems.

The aim is to analyse the incorporation of new sustainability-related traits, with a view to improving the adaptability of breeds to climate change.

The results of ARDI2 will strengthen the dairy sheep breeding sector on both sides of the border. They will allow sheep farmers and the region to benefit from an increase in the competitiveness of their farms, and a greater attractiveness of the profession for young people.

The 3 year project has a total budget of 1,491,600€ and European Regional Development Fund of 969,500€.

ARDI2 project has been 65% co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain-France-Andorra Program (POCTEFA 2021-2027). The aim of POCTEFA is to strengthen the economic and social integration of the Spain-France-Andorra border area.

Communication centre Occitanie-Toulouse

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Zulma Vitezica Professor Toulouse INPGENPHYSE

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