Category:Landais Sheep

There once were a great many flocks of this breed roaming the countryside in the 'Landes de Gascogne' region of France and they were important to the local economy. But by 1974, there remained only about 100 of the pure breed, threatened everywhere by the spread of pine plantations. The 'Parc Natuel Régional des Landes des Gasogne' (a local nature reserve) then collaborated with several personalities well-known in the field of science to safeguard these last Landais sheep.

In 1989 the 'Ferme Conservatoire' took on trust about 30 Landais ewes and a considerable effort was made to increase numbers. To date, 280 females have been born and kept for reproduction, four new breeders have started up from these animals and a unique system of mating has been set up to prevent inbreeding. There are sufficient stud rams to meet the needs of this program and also to provide stud males for other breeders.

At the same time, a program of research into all types of Landais sheep enabling identification and selection of those animals which are closest genetically to the sheep that existed at the beginning of the 20th century.

The Landais, also known as the Briéron, is a meat and carpet wool breed showing colored spots on the head and legs. The males are usually horned and the females naturally hornless.