ABOUT US
THE ASOCIATION1972
Beginnings
OUR HISTORY
We rescued a unique breed when it was on the verge of disappearing. During 1972 and 1973 the Merino breed was going through one of its worst moments in Spain. As Mr. Cayo Esteban Muñoz states in his book “La Raza Merina y sus Cruces”, at that time the development plans to increase Spanish meat production took precedence, which led many breeders to seek industrial crossbreeding with other foreign breeds that were genetically highly developed for meat production. Such indiscriminate crossbreeding seriously threatened its conservation and, had it not been for the quick reaction of the founders of this Association, it is quite possible that the genetic reserve of the most important breed in the world would have disappeared.
OUR HISTORY
Thus, Mr Cayo Esteban Muñoz, Head of Section of the Subdirectorate General for Livestock Development and Expansion, in close collaboration with the Deputy Director himself, Mr Eduardo Laguna Sanz, began a meticulous and almost handcrafted work, consisting of collecting the most representative animals from the different herds that conserved pure historical lines. Once selected, they were taken to Hinojosa del Duque (Córdoba), to a Selection Centre run by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. This exemplary scientific work concluded with the creation of the National Association of Merino Cattle Breeders and the Genealogical Tree. The aim was to raise awareness of the clear advantages of preserving the Merino breed and breeding purebred animals.
But it was not until 6th December 1975 that the National Association of Merino Cattle Breeders was officially constituted in Badajoz, with Mr. Carlos Gil de Córdoba as the first President, a descendant of the foreman who led the first herd of Merinos that the Spanish King Charles III offered to his cousin the French King Louis XVI as a gift. A great defender of the Merino breed, and a connoisseur like few others of the transhumant activity, Mr. Carlos coordinated with exemplary passion the implementation of our activities.
Since 1975
Artisans of the race
WHAT MOVES US?
Our satisfaction
Proud to protect the most emblematic native breed of Spanish livestock, not only for being the most prized jewel of the Spanish livestock genetic heritage, but also for its contribution to the conservation of the environment thanks to its extensive rearing, with the benefits that this entails for the fixation of the population in rural areas.
CONSERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT of the Merino Breed
ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
VALUES AND MOMENTUM
The Association carries out the conservation, improvement and promotion of the Merino breed. We are aware of the importance of what we do and, for this reason, we approach our activity from three distinct fronts:
CONSERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE MERINO BREED
- The development of the Herd Book, Yield Control and Implementation of the Merino Breed Selection Programme, all officially recognised and, with the support of the public administrations.
- To establish the necessary means to raise the level of productivity and profitability of the farms registered with the Association.
- Defence and orientation of the breed and its production.
- To reduce production costs, as well as to regularise their prices.
- To carry out training actions, in terms of technological improvement or innovation, within the field of production and marketing.
- To provide technical services and advice to members.
DISSEMINATION OF ACHIEVEMENTS AND RESULTS
- Dissemination and promotion of the breed, as well as its excellent by-products.
- To inform the associates of the different topics related to the national and international sheep.
- Organisation of the National Competitions of Meat, Sheep and Morphological performance.
- Organisation of world conferences and representation of the national Merino as a member of the World Merino Federation.
- To organise and promote the joint marketing of its animals through the organisation of Official Auctions recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the corresponding Autonomous Communities, as well as free auctions.
Representation of the partners
- To accredit and promote the breed both nationally and internationally.
- National and international marketing of products and by-products from Merino sheep registered in the Official Herd Book.
- To promote the concentration of supply and the placing on the market of the members’ production.
- To undertake joint actions to improve the traceability and labelling of production.
- To represent the members with Official Bodies and Professional Organisations.
