News
Living conservatory: six heritage breeds added to the pilot herd
5/8/2026 · by Project team
Bordeaux cow, Landes ewe, golden Gallic hen: why and how Les Fermes de la Vie integrate heritage breeds adapted to the territory and the climate ahead.
Why conserve heritage breeds
Standardized industrial breeds are selected for productivity in tightly controlled conditions: calibrated feed, regulated climate, constant veterinary care. In a more unstable climate with fewer inputs, these breeds become fragile. Local heritage breeds, even if less productive, withstand variations, valorize poor forage, and stay vigorous over time. Conserving these lineages keeps a living option open for the future, not a museum.
Breeds in the herd
Six breeds are now present at the pilot site: the Bordeaux cow for milk and light traction, the Landes ewe for wool and meat, the Pyrenean goat for cheese milk, the golden Gallic hen for free-range eggs, the Gascon pig for woodland valorization, and the Poitou draft mare for heavy traction. Each population stays moderate (10 to 30 head) to remain manageable and genetically diverse.
Husbandry protocols
Husbandry uses silvopasture, short rotations, and almost exclusively local forage. Reproductions are planned to widen genetic diversity and avoid inbreeding, in connection with French breed associations. All births, grazing perimeters, and care are recorded in a shared digital logbook.
Opening to relays
From autumn 2026, breeders will be transferred to relay farms that commit to the same principles and to documenting their experience. This is how a conservatory becomes truly living: through circulation, not storage. Details on the transmission living conservatories page.
Sources and methodology
This article relies on measured field data, interviews, and public references. The method is made traceable so every figure and statement can be verified or replicated.
Methodology: direct observations on the pilot site, cross-checked against the monthly reviews of the authoring team and discussions with relevant local coordinators. Any factual correction can be reported via the contact page.
by Project team