In the Pays Toy, the herds move with the changing seasons. As soon as the fine weather arrives and the frosts are over, they head up into the mountains to graze on fresh grass. At the end of summer, they return down to the valley. This is known as transhumance.
The herds’ ascent to the summer pastures is the highlight of pastoral life!
Before setting off, the animals are prepared. Bells are attached; their ringing will help the herder and the animals recognise one another. Thevanimals’ fleece is marked with different colours to distinguish those from the same sector. Their ears are also marked; each animal is fitted with a numbered ear tag to identify lost animals or straying young… The traditional methods (notches, distinctive small holes, etc.) specific to each farming household are still used today as a supplement and out of tradition.
Transhumance is still practised in the traditional way. However, it is increasingly carried out using a livestock trailer; this reduces stress on the animals and makes it easier to navigate increasingly busy roads.
Each herder is allocated a specific area of the mountains, which the animals have come to know through generations. They know the places and times when the grass is at its most palatable, as well as the shelters, resting places and water sources.
In the mountains, the animals are right at home!
The herder visits them on average once a week. He locates his flock using binoculars. With the help of his dog, he gathers them together to count the animals, provide any necessary care, and give them salt. Salt is an essential dietary supplement for the animals. Distributing it also helps to train the flock to always return to the same spot.
The summer grazing period is vital for the animals’ development and fattening, and is a key requirement for the Protected Designation of Origin.
Mountains without borders
The Col de la Bernatoire is the pass through which shepherds from northern Aragon have, since time immemorial, led their flocks to the greener slopes of the northern side. They have long felt at home there, as the French arrived later in these summer pastures. As land belonging to no one is naturally coveted by all, the history of these pastures is nothing but a succession of conflicts, treaties and agreements – known as ‘lies et passeries’ – each of which was circumvented as soon as it was concluded. At the start of the 20th century, the disputes finally subsided, and the treaties even ended up creating a sort of common market for grass. Today, nearly a thousand head of cattle cross the border and, at the end of July, the French and the Spanish celebrate their agreements.
