Description :
This Radio País podcast was produced as part of the Tramontana Network (Réseau Tramontana), a European cooperation project co-funded by the European Union. The project brings together communities from different rural regions to preserve and share their oral heritage, traditional knowledge and local identities through interviews and audiovisual documentation.
In this episode, the interviewer speaks with Jean-Paul, who recalls the traditional livestock breeds that have long shaped the rural landscapes of Gascony. He describes the Mirandaise and Gascon cattle, explaining their physical characteristics and their essential role in farming activities such as ploughing fields, working in vineyards and transporting goods. He also remembers local livestock markets and the close relationship between farmers and their working animals during the 1950s and 1960s.
The conversation then turns to other emblematic Gascon breeds, including the Black Gascon pig and the region’s traditional black chicken. Jean-Paul explains how these native breeds were gradually replaced by more productive commercial varieties before efforts were made to recover and protect them. Through personal memories and anecdotes, he highlights the importance of safeguarding these animals not only for their agricultural value but also as an essential part of Gascon cultural identity, culinary traditions and rural heritage.