The International Year of Pastoralism saw the Aubrac Regional Natural Park focus its Agro-ecological Practices Competition on mountain pastures. Following an assessment of candidate plots in June by a jury of botanists, fauna specialists, and agronomists, the first prize was awarded on Friday, September 18. Hervé Balitrand, who manages the pasture with his brother Vincent Balitrand, was recognized for his mountain pasture in Les Salces, situated at over 1,300 meters altitude.
“I didn’t expect to win first prize,” reacted the farmer, thanking the Park and the Fleur d’Aubrac label for the competition. He shared his interest in the exchanges with the jury, discovering the presence of carnivorous plants, such as Drosera rotundifolia and a species of Pinguicula (butterwort), in a wetter area of his plot. Chloé Sillon, Agro-environment Project Manager at the Park, confirmed the rarity of these plants and their importance for conservation, indicating excellent agricultural management.
The plot, enrolled in the MAEC (Agri-environmental and Ecological Measures) program a few years ago, has been managed without fertilizers since 1992. Its owner, Bertrand Cayrel, who sells the standing grass to GAEC des Bouysses, has always chosen not to drain it to preserve its biotope. The jury praised the plot's floristic diversity and its range of natural habitats, as well as the care taken with parasitic treatments for the cows. These practices, supported by the Fleurs d’Aubrac and Boeuf Fermier Aubrac labels, aim to minimize impact on local fauna, particularly dung beetles.
“We like to have beautiful plots, with a good diversity of plants and quality feed for our cows,” Hervé Balitrand stated. Park President Marc Guibert and Serge Franc, President of the Park's Agriculture Commission, highlighted the 'multi-service' role of these pastures: providing sustenance, economic benefits, supporting biodiversity, water management, carbon storage, and enhancing the region's tourism appeal. Thanks to his award, Hervé Balitrand will participate in the national pasture competition in February at the Paris International Agricultural Show.
