Discussing the “Action Plan to Safeguard the Algarvian Bovine Breed” was the objective of the meeting that took place on December 10, between officials and technicians of the Ministry of Agriculture (DRAP Algarve and Alentejo, DGAV, INIAV/Estação Zootécnica Nacional), the Universities do Algarve and Porto (CIBIO), the Municipality of Silves, ASCAL (holder of the Herd Book of the Algarvian Bovine Breed) and regional breeders.
The Algarvian Bovine Breed, stresses the regional direction of Agriculture, once had "a prominent place in the region's livestock breeding", but now runs "a high risk of extinction".
In such a way that only “21 animals are identified as belonging to the Algarve breed, located on three farms (Lagos, Silves and Tavira)”.
To increase this small nucleus, actions are being implemented, based mainly on reproductive technology (artificial insemination), using semen from Algarve bulls kept at the Banco Português de Germoplasma Animal and Embrionária Transfer.
DRAP Algarve stresses that «the success of this recovery will depend on the collaboration between the project partners and essentially on the adhesion of breeders in the region, which will allow, in a first phase, the constitution of base nuclei of Algarvian breeders for use in the program to increase the effective".
This breed has "high environmental value", in terms of biodiversity and adaptation to climate change, since these animals are characterized by their strong adaptation to the environment (rusticity) and by the use they make of natural resources, contributing to the maintenance of areas more resilient to fire.
Therefore, its exploitation may also represent an important socioeconomic component, «given the high potential that currently exists in the consumption of meat from indigenous breeds, as a differentiated product, with the Algarve region being privileged in terms of local and tourist demand, increasingly aware of and interested in quality local products'.
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