October 15, 2017 A VISIT TO PORTUGAL - AUG 2017
Photographs of Ile de France in Portugal have intrigued me for awhile .
So i decided to visit them and find out how they operated and what further opprortunities there would be for the SA Ile de France, seeing that importations from France was a problem.
I was very warmly greeted and hosted by JOSE RAMAO [ BREED DIRECTOR] as well as several other breeders including CARLOS CUVEE and the President of the Society, MANUEL EVORA.
JOSE in fact is a well respected international judge and has officiated in France and Brazil. Maybe not a bad idea to get him to SA - I found his knowledge of the IDF sheep very, very good and we definately seem to agree on most points of the breed.
There system there is very different to SA. There are no more than 30 breeders with only 15-30 ewes each. Because of the feed prices and low meat prices there are not many big herds - only in commercial side where some farmers have 'merinos' and cross these with IDF annd sell to the Spanish market - rather complicated. So this is a hobby for themand they sell their rams for the equivalent of 4-5 000 EURO.
Their hobby is to show against each other at various shows throughout the country and buy in the best French rams and ewes each year. - and only lamb once a year in October. their animals are very similar to our long sheep and they achieve BIG WEIGHTS - WHERE THE CURRENT PORTUGUESE CHAMPION WEIGHED 188KG - A HUGE ANIMAL AS CAN BE SEEN FROM THE PICTURES BELOW.
I am currently investigating the opportunity to try and import some embryos.
I was not however impressed with the imported ewes from France - as well as the 'best' rams from France.
Interestingly also - they have recognised the black Ile de France as a registered breed - called the OVINO.
They are also in fashion and also showed at shows. Althiough a smaller animal they are very impressed with the black Ovino - smaller lambs and more docile animal.
Many long interesting lunches were had, and many bloodlines were discussed.
THE CURRENT PORTUGUESE CHAMPION RAM - 188 KG [ 5111]
