Agroecology case study: Revenons à nos moutons

Revenons à nos moutons is a low-input sheep-breeding system in Corrèze, France.

The sheep grazing is coordinated with the seasonal changes of their region. To save on inputs such as feed, sheep need to be raised and fattened on pasture as much as possible, but grasslands don't grow consistently all year around. The rotation used is:

• Grasslands during spring and autumn
• Moors and peat bogs during summer (when rains are at their lowest and the bogs are at their driest)
• Underwood and forest fallows in winter (to allow the animals to graze off bark)

The system is woven in to the community, both including other pastoralists and people who do not raise livestock.

With other pastoralists:

• Collective hiring of shepherds to manage the sheep of a community
• Peer-to-peer knowledge exchange

With the broader community:

• Providing grazing as a service on the land of vine growers and foresters, rather than using mowing or herbicide

We encourage all readers to use the forum, where you can give your opinion, ask questions or give responses on the corresponding Forum sections: Bushcraft & nature and Gardening, smallholding & farming.

• Revenons à nos moutons website
• Agroecology According to the European Coordination Via Campesina

• Otto Hague

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