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.
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:
As complementary characteristics, this programme has been taking into account meat qualities :
The company is also working on the resistance of rams to parasitism in individual control stations.
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 :
Maternal qualities are also improved :
The company is also working on the feed efficiency of rams in individual control stations.
