Two complementary selection programs

There are approximately 250,000 Lacaune meat in France. The breed originates in the southwest part of the Massif Central.

The Lacaune meat breed is specialised for the production of lambs under the mother's milk. There are two selection programs for this breed which have improved both maternal and butchery traits but each has its own specificities. The two companies implementing these schemes are "GID Lacaune" and the "Coopérative OVI-TEST ". UPRA Lacaune, as the breed society, coordinates the selection activity and approves the breeding stock of these two companies.

OVI-TEST programme : maternal qualities, efficiency, balance

With a lamb-bearing rate around 200%, the breed has retained the hardiness, out of season characteristics and milk qualities required to produce lambs while at the same time improving the quality of its meat for butchers.

Improving the productivity of the flock is a priority and concerns:

  • Prolificness and controlling the number of lambs per ewe, by managing the major hyper-prolificity gene "Lac 3"
  • Out of season characteristics, fertility
  • Milk quality

As complementary characteristics, this programme has been taking into account meat qualities :

  • Speed of growth
  • Fattening
  • Conformity
  • Return

The company is also working on the resistance of rams to parasitism in individual control stations.

Agneau Lacaune viande sous la mère ©LAETIS - Johan BARROT

GID programme : meat quality, suitability, innovation

The GID selection programme concentrates on improving meat qualities by managing the culard major gene while improving the quality of maternal characteristics.

Improving meat quality is the major objective of breeders :

  • Speed of growth
  • Fattening
  • Conformity
  • Carcase return

Maternal qualities are also improved :

  • Prolificness (170%)
  • Out of season characteristics, fertility
  • Milk quality

The company is also working on the feed efficiency of rams in individual control stations.

Béliers Lacaune Viande en SCI- UPRA Lacaune