Discover the program Genuine Merino Wool and the importance of taking responsibility for the conservation of biodiversity in the environment and the care of our native Merino breed. The Merino breed is the oldest in Spain and was the first Universal breed due to its worldwide expansion thanks to its hardiness, its unbeatable reproductive attitude and the production of the best wool in the world.
Origin of the breed
The Merina breed was selected by the Romans in Hispania during the 1st century A.D. to produce white wool. Subsequently, it continued to be selected in Spain for centuries to reduce the diameter of its fiber. It was the first time in the history of mankind that man selected an animal for a specific purpose, to improve its wool.
The genuine breed was on the verge of disappearing in the middle of the last century, but thanks to the creation of the National Association of Merino Cattle Breeders in the 1970s, the situation was remedied and, as a result, some 140,000 specimens are still registered in the Herd Book.
Genuine Merino Wool
It is an accountability and collaborative program dedicated to the preservation of the breed. Its main objective is the restoration of the genuine and original Merino breed in Spain and the revaluation of its unique wool properties.
The farmers participating in the program work with extensive livestock farmingwhich is inherent to the Merina breed. Consisting of the use of traditional methods of cattle raising, using natural ecosystems for an integral development of the animals, producing a symbiosis between Merino, Pasture and Land. Merino sheep are perfect for improving the soil and preventing its degradation. Holistic herd management fertilizes the soil and promotes pasture regeneration.
Livestock breeds are a fundamental element in agrobiodiversity. They guarantee the variety of animal products and the conservation of the ecosystems in which the animals graze. In turn, they are the livelihood of numerous rural communities that provide multiple services for the welfare of society.
In order to conserve biodiversity, it is necessary to make responsible use of the environment while respecting the animals’ need to live in freedom. Another objective is to improve understanding of the relationship between wild and livestock diversity. It has been demonstrated that in those areas where native breeds, such as the Merino sheep, live, they also show a greater diversity of wild vertebrates.
Genuine Merino Wool cooperates with the maintenance of the agricultural community together with the National Association of Merino Cattle Breeders, working to continue increasing the number of Merino cattle and the interest in this exclusive product that is Merino wool, which is obtained in a responsible manner, offering significant benefits both for the animals themselves in terms of welfare and for the consumer in terms of quality and sustainability.
Benefits of free-ranging livestock.
Extensive cattle raising takes advantage of natural resources, offering the following benefits:
- Conservation of soils by regenerating them and preventing erosion.
- Requirement of less inputs.
- It preserves the ecosystems in which it is practiced and the diversity of the species that cohabit it.
- Little or no consumption of fossil fuels.
- The products obtained are of differentiated quality.
- The animals are treated ethically, enjoying total freedom and great welfare.
The individual responsibility of consumers arises here, so we are increasingly aware of the respect for the environment, the conservation of native breeds, animal welfare, local trade, opting for products that in addition to high quality are respectful of this philosophy of sustainable living.
In short, the extensive system and the preservation of the genuine Merino breed are the fundamental pillars of the National Association of Merino Cattle Breeders and Genuine Merino Wool.