Merino J Livestock. Ortiz
Transterminance
The Merino sheep is very resistant to extreme conditions and withstands long journeys well..
Livestock routes are the routes or itineraries along which livestock ran and continue to run cyclically in the phenomenon called transterminance., In Don Benito no one does it anymore, only our livestock farm ends every year in a three-day day.
To comment on the origins of the livestock routes we have to go back to the second half of the 18th century with the reign of Alfonso 1273 where the privileges granted to pastors are recognized, Among those foundational privileges granted to transhumants is the protection and maintenance of the network of livestock routes., Today these routes are in the process of recovery in those areas where transhumance is still operational..
Our flock currently consists of 4000 pure merino sheep that preserve genetics, the last stronghold of the Hidalga line of the peninsula, ends every year, twice in two three-day journeys from Las Vegas Bajas del Guadiana, where they are taking advantage of the stubble and thereby spreading seeds, fertilizing the soil allowing the maintenance of the vegetation cover towards the winter pastures where they spend the winter, there they take advantage of the acorns and the shelter in the oaks.
The Merino breed is the indigenous breed par excellence in the world., This is due to the great rusticity and adaptation to the environment, In fact, the Merino sheep is the only one capable of withstanding these transfers or transterminance. Furthermore, it is much more than an ecological phenomenon but rather a phenomenon of conservation of public heritage that involves the recovery of the livestock trail network., in this case the Silver cord, the path of the King or the cordel de Sevilla through which our flock travels, anthropological heritage that must be preserved and recovered.
Our livestock has been migrating along these cordes and paths for more than forty years from Medellín to the areas of La Haba., Name it, along the livestock trails, Today, thirty-five years later, we maintain this legacy that our ancestors have left us and we intend to display it with the largest and most important flock of pure Merino sheep in Spain..
Spain and France are already leading the second candidacy to declare transhumance as a World Heritage Site, to the success of the declaration of the first candidacy, presented by Italy, Greece and Austria, This second initiative is joined by other European countries such as Albania, Croatia and Romania.
This declaration is very important for the recognition and support of transhumance in Spain., continuing the efforts that have been made for a long time by both public and private entities and that have had, among other notable successes, the publication of the transhumance notebooks or the white paper on transhumance.
More than 300 national and international awards in genetics and wool place us as the most important livestock farm in this part of the continent.
Our flock of pure merino and our wool have been maintained for years in the best quality brands, obtaining specimens of 17/18 microns, something practically unthinkable outside of territories like Argentina or New Zealand.
We export our animals to more than 40 countries and we are involved in several projects to defend extensive livestock farming, the pastoralism of native breeds and Spanish wool. In the region of Don Benito we intend to give transterminance the greatest possible dissemination and value it. Pure stronghold of noblemen with the intact lineage of Cesáreo Rey, merine master and transhumant who gave us relief and allowed us to continue enjoying his merina in our flock.
Our passion
The line of Hidalgas sheep runs through the veins of this family with a Merino tradition through several generations..
In the 21st century we continue to conserve the improved nobles, with a selection process of more than 30 years, we continue looking for improving animals, making a flock with common characteristics, Today it is the most homogeneous herd in Spain and Europe in pure genetics..
A young livestock preserving all the antiquity and purity of the breed, a team of 3 ranchers, Joaquin , Feli and Camino with a common goal, return to the merino sheep the splendor it deserves, adapting it to the times and the principles of sustainable livestock farming.
The image of our environment full of life and future.
Merino for everything!
In our livestock farm we have worked for more than 80 years in making animals with magnificent wool but without forgetting the meat part.
Merinos improving meat and wool production based on selection on the pure Hidalga line sheep without introducing genetics from other meat sheep breeds, considered today our merino line, as its own genetic line that has come to improve the old Hidalga line since its strictest conservation, generating a unique and intact nucleus in constant evolution towards the biomechanically perfect merino sheep with ultra-fine wool.
We are a livestock farm 100% registered in the book of the Merino Breed and today considered an improver of the breed, We have managed to maintain this wool prestige together with spectacular meat yields.
Find out our latest news and important information about the most international breed of sheep.. The breed of sheep that has marked the history of Spain during 800 years. The original purity of the Merino breed.
