The association Slow - Food France has sent us information on a project to reclaim a hardy endangered breed. Catalan goats were identified in 1979 by Lawrence River Avon and were first recognized by their particular horn type.

Actions planned from September 2009 will enable a more accurate DNA typing, and organoleptic tests on cheese and meat will define “official” criteria for these products.

Our objectives:
• Review the current situation: location, census number of breeders
• Search of qualities or characteristics specific to race
• How to enhance the population? Local economy?
• How to recognize officially the race with including Slow Food and the Institute of Livestock?

History:
Martin Quintana focused first on this population. In 1995 he had thirty goats with some Catalan. Then, by commitment to this race, he began a collection of the latest type individuals “Catalan.” In 2000, after buying goats from six neighboring farms, the flock reached 70 animals. Lawrence Avon, a specialist goat breeder and researcher at the Institute of Livestock, helped in this selection. He had a keen interest in the conservation of this breed. Today the population of Catalan goats extends to about 400 head. Most animals remained on the Quintana family lands. The rest were divided among four nearby farmers who are also passionate about Catalan goats.

Now Mr. Quintana hopes that they will finally be recognized as a race. Our work is directed toward this goal.

Morphological characteristics:
The Catalan was first recognized by its horns, which project backwards and are flat on the head. Their coat can vary from brown to dark brown, but a spotted brown mahogany is the most represented. They are thin small animals with long limbs, suitable for difficult terrain.

Hardiness:
These are hardy local breeds with the ability to adapt to their territory, and can be produced at lower cost. Catalan goats have the advantage of also producing milk at minimal costs. Moreover, they could in the future, constitute a gene pool for races that have been selected on specific characters in a productivity target.

Slow Food:
Slow Food is an association that works to safeguard biodiversity and the promotion of culinary traditions. The goal is to recognize the goat as a sentinel and which falls in the ark of taste, and should be made known to the general public.

Meat industry:
Quintana farming family is one of a few farms in French goat meat production.

Flock:
Composition: 230 goats / 3 goats
Feeding: grazing all year / distribution of small quantities of hay and oats grain tacos (granules of barley, maize) for palatability.
Reproduction: 1 farrowing / goat / year, natural service during November and the natural seasonality for 1/3 of the herd in May. Kidding in March and November = 2 prolificacy, mortality close to 0.

Marketing:
Kids are typically sold at a live weight of 10 to 12 kg, at an age of 1 to 1.5 months in Spain. Prices vary between 6.5 € / kg live at Christmas and 4.5 € the rest of the year including transport. In France there is little consumption of meat goats, so selling prices are lower. The COPO offers 7.30 € to 7.50 € / kg carcass, about 4 € / kg live without taking responsibility for transport.

Milk:
Currently there is little breeding of Catalans for the purpose of milk production. Some figures concerning the quality and quantity of milk produced are available. The first data from controls is the dairy herd of Mr. Pacault with a sample of 6 goats in his Catalan herd.

Averages over 4 years:
Litrage (kg) Fat content (g / kg) Protein content (g / kg)
Catalan goats: 460 43 9 32.2
Other: 483 38 2 34.8

We note that Catalan goats have fat similar to others, which is interesting for texture and sensory qualities of cheese. An analysis of milk is also being made on the herd from Quintana, but results are not yet available. Tests of triangular cheeses were also made from three different herds, slight differences were seen. The Catalan goat cheeses are softer and have less taste.

Outlook:
• Three lots will be created this year in the Quintana family herd. A lot of doe one year and three goats will be separated.
• Purpose: control projections, followed genealogical lineage establishment to avoid inbreeding.
• Genetic typing of the Catalan goat in comparison with the goat of Asturias which is morphologically close to Rove and the goat which is close geographically. This is to show the existence of race.
• Recognition of early race by the Institute of Livestock.
• Proposed establishment of a dairy run by two people of the village of Las Illas at Martin Quintana.
• The seasonal artificial increase of production of kids at Christmas in order to have a dairy year.

Helen Decoene,
06 03 76 67 06
h.decoene@wanadoo.fr
www.slowfood.fr