Event highlights goat farming innovation

Approximately 450 participants gathered under the Ardèche sun for an open day at the Pradel experimental goat farm on October 15. The event brought together farmers, technicians, and industry professionals to discuss the results of ongoing experiments and share knowledge about evolving farming practices.

Industry leaders praise the initiative

Laurent Balmelle, an Ardèche goat farmer and president of Cap'Pradel, praised the event's success during the inauguration. He emphasized the importance of such gatherings for exchanging ideas and advancing farming techniques. Samuel Bulot, president of the Institut de l'élevage, highlighted the strength of the collective supporting Pradel, calling it a unique platform for risk-free experimentation.

National recognition for the project

Jean-Pierre Royannez, a goat farmer from Drôme and president of the Drôme agricultural chamber, noted that Pradel has become a national reference for farmers and technicians. Sylvain Boiron, a goat farmer from Loir-et-Cher and general secretary of the Fnec, expressed surprise at the event's large turnout, emphasizing that the project's openness is a key factor in its success.

Workshops and technical sessions

The event featured 15 technical workshops, including four one-hour sessions for farmers, technicians, and trainees. Topics ranged from feeding and long lactation to cheesemaking, parasitism, kids, and forage trees. Experts and field technicians shared the latest results from experiments conducted on the Pradel farm and elsewhere.

Gastronomy and contests

At noon, attendees enjoyed a meal featuring goat meats and cheeses, while partners’ stands welcomed visitors. The results of the Trouvailles de chevriers contest were also announced. The open day coincided with Fromagora, the national contest of raw milk farmhouse cheeses, which took place that evening and continued into the following day with a contest and visits.

Future plans for the event

The organizers plan to repeat this combined event format in the future, aiming to enhance the appeal of both the Pradel open day and Fromagora. The collaboration is intended to attract farmhouse cheese makers from across France and promote the region as a hub for cheese production.