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Can systems using hyper specialized breeds be considered as localized agrifood systems? The example of the Belgian Texel breed
Lauvie, Anne; Stassart, Pierre M
201411th European IFSA Symposium
 

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Keywords :
lock-in; hyper specialized breed; local; Texel; Verrouillage; race hyperspécialisée
Abstract :
[en] The Belgian Texel sheep breed is a meat purpose breed, the Belgian form of the Dutch Texel breed, with muscular hypertrophy. Comparing the situation of this breed to others hyper specialized breeds in Belgium raise the question of the existence of a Belgian breeding model. We interviewed 11 stakeholders concerned by the Texel breed (breeders, scientists, veterinary, extension service technician, and butcher). Those interviews have allowed us to discuss three dimensions of the Texel breed management: ‐ The breed is actually a breeding animals propose breed. Sheep meat is few consumed in Belgium and butchers seem to prefer crossbreed meat than pure Texel meat. As a consequence the main aim for breeding Texel is breeding animals selling. The breeders consider the selection activity as their activity, and underline that it is more interesting for them from an economical point of view to sell breeding animals abroad (United Kingdom). ‐ The breed management follows a Belgian model and is as a consequence localized! The Blanc Bleu Belge cattle breed is clearly a model for the Texel breeders and several of them mention the “Belgian eye of the breeder”. Producing meat in quantity is the core motivation in this breeding model (a breeding model that echoes an engineering culture where performance is a core motivation). Among the organization of breeding in Belgium, the breeding shows contests are important places where this model is shared by breeders, even among deferent species. ‐ The breed is very well adapted to its breeding situation but what about it adaptive capacities? The breed is mentioned as adapted to grazing (good quality grassland) and it is as well adapted to socio-territorial conditions of belgium (small area). The breed is easy to breed (except during the lambing period very time consuming which means that flocks are often small flocks). It’s considered as well adapted to breeding animal production for crossbreeding. However, most of the interviewed persons have mentioned failures in adaptation to changes in breeding conditions (bigger flocks, breeding in hot climate area for instance). Thanks to this case study, we discuss the fact that qualifying an agrifood system as “localized” is not enough and that it is crucial to understand and analyze the anchorages in local as dynamics and in their dynamics.
Disciplines :
Sociology & social sciences
Author, co-author :
Lauvie, Anne
Stassart, Pierre M ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > DER Sc. et gest. de l'environnement (Arlon Campus Environ.) > Gouvernance de l'environnement
Language :
English
Title :
Can systems using hyper specialized breeds be considered as localized agrifood systems? The example of the Belgian Texel breed
Publication date :
2014
Event name :
11th European IFSA Symposium
Event date :
2-4 april
Audience :
International
Available on ORBi :
since 09 December 2014

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