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Causses
du Lot
French
EFABIS Data
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International Name |
Causses du Lot |
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Local Name |
Causses du Lot |
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Location |
Lot Department |
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Breeding females
(year) |
107.695 |
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Trend of population size |
Increasing |
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Flock book established |
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Origin – history
-
Breed description
The Causses du Lot
is well adapted to its environment and is well suited to free-range
or “sheepfold” management systems. The ewe matures early and breeds
well out of season. In large flocks there can be two, three or even
four lambing times spread throughout the year. Ewes achieve a
prolificity rate of 1.59. It is in demand for pure-breeding with 55%
of ewes being pure-bred, for their fertility, high milk value,
hardiness and ability to breed out of season. To produce lambs with
better conformation they are cross-bred with a pedigree meat ram.
The cross between a Causses du Lot ewe and an Ile de France ram
(known as the F1 46), produces lambs that meet the requirements of
the market: Quercy Label Rouge local lamb.
The sheep are white with black eye patches. Neither the male nor
female is horned. They have good fleece coverage, with the legs also
covered. The mature rams weigh 90-110kg, and the ewes weigh 50-65kg.
Conservation activities
A two-step breed
selection scheme has been put into place, through France UPRA, with
the purpose of ensuring the renewal of 100.000 meat flock ewes in
order to achieve the best possible guarantees with regard to genetic
and health status. One objective is aimed at improving maternal
aptitudes, fertility and milk value using on-farm testing of progeny
and currently involves 40 breeds and 20.000 ewes. The second is
aimed at improving the conformation by producing an F1 46 female
from a Causses du Lot ewe x Ile-de-France ram cross, with 25
breeders and 15.000 ewes. The Causses du Lot UPRA annually
distributes 250 young rams via the breeding centre, 8.000 pure-bred
Causses du Lot ewe lambs, 6.000 F1 46 ewe lambs, and 4.000
artificial insemination doses.
Contact: UPRA
Causses du Lot Chambre d’Agriculture du Lot - Place de la Gare - BP
199 - 46 004
CAHORS CEDEX Tel. (+00 33) 05 65 23 22 07
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