Main breeds of domestic farm animals

Livestock breeds originated from the adaptation of animals to their environmental and geographic surroundings and human-directed action to increase the production of farm animals. The set of breeds in our country is compiled in the Official Catalogue of Breeds of Spain (2019) which distinguishes them between native promotion breeds, native breeds in danger of extinction and integrated breeds from outside the Peninsula. This sheet shows some of the most representative breeds of the different types of livestock.

A breed is defined as a sufficiently uniform population of 2) Human action through directed reproduction: animals that it can be considered different from other livestock species are improved for productive animals of the same species (Regulation 2016/1012, of purposes. Thus, dairy breeds have been improved June 8, 2016 on animal husbandry). There are two main to have large udders, with a great potential to factors that give rise to livestock breeds: produce milk, much more than what the baby cows need for their development. Breeds destined 1) Environmental and geographical action: for meat tend to be larger, more prolific and depending on where they live, animals have been precocious: they develop more quickly and reach / Management of the meadow and the animals that graze on it and the animals that graze the meadow of / Management modifying their bodies in order to adapt to different sexual maturity earlier. environmental conditions. This group includes autochthonous breeds, with traditional production In Spain, the main livestock breeds present in the territory systems, which require animals that, although are listed in the Official Catalogue of Cattle Breeds of Spain less productive, have very valuable functional (2019). It includes “autochthonous breeds”, which may characteristics, which make them unique in their be either “in development” (in expansion) or “in danger places of production and allow progress towards of extinction” and “integrated breeds” from outside the a necessary sustainability (Official Catalogue of Peninsula, which have been here for more than 20 years Cattle Breeds of Spain, 2019). and have genealogy and performance controls.

Some of the most outstanding breeds within each type of livestock and productive purpose are described below. THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE ECOSYSTEM COMPONENTS OF THE DIFFERENT

Figure 1. Herd of cows of the Simmental or Fleckvieh breed, which is the breed used in Polyfarming. Photo: Maria Josep Broncano.

1 b) a) Meatsheep extinction. There are 4integrated races from otherlocations, plus2races thatare foreigners inexpansion. In Spainthere are 44autochthonous breeds ofsheep b) Milkcows a) Beefcows breeds withknown yields. The mostrepresentative are: In Spainthere are 46breeds ofcows Roncal cheeses. destined for theproduction ofIdiazabaland to mountainousareas withhighrainfall. Milk in thenorth-eastofpeninsula. Adapted Autochthonous promotion breed high-quality lambs. count, withgreat production ofbothmilkand the mostprimitive inthePeninsula. Very high Autochthonous promotion breed 60% ofthetotalcount. cheese production inSpain. Integrated breed a productivity of0.75calves/year. fertility ofall theSpanishmeatbreeds, with the Iberian Tronco Negro. Ithasthehighest adapted tothedehesaarea thatcomesfrom Autochthonous promotion breed CHURRA FRIESIANS HOLSTEIN MORUCHA Milk sheep Sheep breeds Razas devacuno Coarse andlongwool. that isthefirst inmilkand It represents andoneof , abundant locally , whichinclude8breeding breeds, 32breeds indangerofextinction and6integrated Autochthonous promotion breed has easily acclimatised. Santander andtheBasqueCountry, where it Abundant ontheCantabriancoast:, production for themanufacture ofcheeses. Integrated breed Productivity of0.69calves/year. and meeknessthatfacilitateshandling. easily adaptabletoany territory. Docility It ischaracterised by beingvery rusticand than 500years oldoriginatingfrom Galicia. Autochthonous promotion breed Manchego cheese. High longevity and shelflife. Production of and hotclimates. High rusticity. Herd instinct. where itismostabundant. Adapted todry owes itsnametothegeographical area Autochthonous promotion breed meat breeds. that hasgiven risetomostofthecurrent the world for wool production. It is the breed by theRomans. Itisthemostvalued breed in MERINA PARDA MANCHEGA GALLEGA RUBIA , ofwhich10are for promotion and34are considered indangerof that ranks second in dairy , described , which more animal. transhumance from thevalleys. in highmountainpastures, with Pre-. Itisraised extensively widespread intheCatalanPyrenees and Breed indangerofextinction Idiazábal cheese. high rainfall. Usedfor theproduction of Adapted to mountainous areas with breed Abundant gastronomic tradition. Its meat is linked to the traditional to value whenthere isalackofforage. advantage ofresources thatare difficult is ofCatalanorigin. Very rustic, ittakes Native breed indangerofextinction It isthemostfertile breed. purposes, they produce milk and meat. distributed intheworldwithdual one ofthemostimportantandwidely Spain for more thanfour decades. Itis Integrated breed FLECKVIEH SIMMENTAL OR CARRANZANA RIPOLLESA PIRINEOS BRUNA DELOS inthenorthofpeninsula. autochthonous promotion that has been in Docile . It 2

http://polyfarming.eu/ THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE ECOSYSTEM / Management of the meadow and the animals that graze on it Main breeds of domestic farm animals

Goat breeds

We found a total of 22 breeds described in the catalogue, of which 3 are for promotion and 19 are classified as “in danger of extinction”. The following stand out:

a) Meat goats

RETINTA MALLORQUINA PIRENAICA

Native breed in danger of extinction. Its Native breed in danger of extinction. It Native breed in danger of extinction. name comes from its red colour. Breed extends through the Sierra de la Tramuntana It originated and distributed in the whose origin is considered to be very old. It and the Llevant mountains of the island Pyrenees, mainly in the Aragon’s is raised extensively in for its of Mallorca. It is raised extensively and is section. It is a breed adapted to cold meat. appreciated for its meat and antlers (a fact mountain climates whose main that has generated hunting reserves). productive use is meat. / Management of the meadow and the animals that graze on it and the animals that graze the meadow of / Management

b) Milk goats

MURCIANO- MALAGUEÑA FLORIDA GRANADINA

The most numerous autochthonous breed in Native breed, originally from Malaga. It Native breed whose name comes Spain whose origin comes from the south- combines the extensive milk production with from the red spotted coat on a white east of the peninsula. It is appreciated for its the production of high-quality suckling goats. background or vice versa. Breed that high milk production and for its fat content. It has a high rusticity, being very adaptable spans Andalusia and Extremadura. It is essential in the production of Murcian to different production systems andHighly rustic animal valued for cheeses D.O.P. environments, even in very disadvantaged producing milk with a high fat content. areas.

Pig breeds THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE ECOSYSTEM COMPONENTS OF THE DIFFERENT

There are 16 breeds of pigs in the Peninsula, of which 3 are promotion breeds, 9 are in danger of extinction and 4 are integrated breeds. Among them, the following can be highlighted:

IBERIAN PIG DUROC CELTIC

Native breed evolved from Sus scrofa Integrated breed from the USA widely Native breed in danger of extinction. ferus. Traditional system of extensive bait distributed in Europe. It is rustic and adapted Originally from the Celtic Trunk of exploitation with the use of the natural to hot climates. It stands out by providing European origin. Traditionally the resources of the pasture (herbs and quality to the meat due to the fat infiltrated breed has been exploited extensively acorns). Iberian pork products with a great in the products. in Galicia. Among its products, Galician gastronomic quality. bacon and Galician chorizo stand​​ out.

3 New Zealand rabbit photo: Unsplash, in dangerofextinction. of thisspeciesmany races arose for different uses:hair, skin, meatorpets. InSpain, there are twobreeds ofmeatthatare The European rabbit ( b) Hensforeggs a) Meathens danger ofextinction. Otherbreeds, althoughnotinthecatalogue, are widely usedfor bothmeatandeggproduction. Among the official breeds there are 20 breeds of chickens recognised in Spain. Of these, 19 are considered to be in by larger andmore productive breeds. discreet reproduction. Ithas beendisplaced races. Itstandsoutfor itsrusticityand is considered tobeoneofthemostprimitive believed tooriginatefrom Roman timesand Native breed in dangerof extinction eggs. resistant breed. Extensive producer oflarge the centre. Itisavery rusticanddisease- Iberian Peninsula, itismostabundantin over by theArabs. Spread throughout the light breed isbelieved tohave beenbrought Native breed in danger of extinction with abundantandjuicymeat. industry. They are heavy and muscular birds most widely usedbreed inthe chicken meat chickens, aswell asCornishcrosses, are the it comesfrom thecountyofCornwall. These catalogue Breed notincludedintheSpanishofficial NEGRA CASTELLANA ESPANOL OR PARDO DOMÉSTICO COMÚN CORNISH Rabbit breeds Avian breeds . Itowes itsnametothefactthat Oryctolagus cuniculus Minsha Walker . This . Itis . ) was listed as an endangered species by the IUCN in 2019. From the domestication with great aptitudefor producing eggs. internationally. Itisahenofmediumrusticity Menorca inthe18thcentury, itwas distributed by the Englishduringoccupationof Native breed indangerofextinction meat. grow very quickly andproduce highly-prized developed for meat production as chickens Rock female around 1930. This variety was cross between a Cornish male and a Barred catalogue Breed notincludedintheSpanishofficial lean meat. slow-maturing animals thatproduce very throughout theSpanishterritory. They are is spread over different breeding centres emerged atthestartof20thcentury, it Native breed indangerofextinction MENORQUINA BROILER RABBIT GIANT FLEMISH . The Broiler variety comes from the . Selected . It winter. low temperatures of the Mediterranean aptitude: meatandeggs. Empordà. Itissemi-heavy withadouble Originally from the Catalan region of Native breed indangerofextinction carcass performance. females, good growth rates andgood it isaprolific breed, with very fertile function ofproducing meat. Ingeneral, in theUnitedStates1912with rabbit throughout theworld, itemerged official catalogue Breed notincludedintheSpanish variety stands out for producing eggs. purpose breeds, althoughthebarred breed, considered one of the best dual- to Europe around 1880. Semi-heavy the UnitedStates, itwas imported official catalogue Breed notincluded intheSpanish ROCK PLYMOUTH EMPORDANESA NEW ZEALAND . Verywidespread . Originally from Adapted tothe . 4 . http://polyfarming.eu/ THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE ECOSYSTEM / Management of the meadow and the animals that graze on it