draganescu.c.2007

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3rd Joint Meeting of the Network of Universities and Research Institutions of Animal Scienceof the South Eastern European Countries, Thessaloniki 10-12 February 2007

On the pastoral life in Balkans and South-Eastern EuropePast, present, future

C. DrgnescuAgricultural University, IBNA Bucharest Romania

.Sheep production has been a feature of Balkans, of South-Eastern Europe since antiquity. The climate, the high

proportion of mountains to plains, and the socio-economic-historical conditions favourite some truly pastoral systems,characterised by free-ranging stock, which is not housed at farm every night.. The main such systems were pendulation andtranshumance. Transhumance is the shift from summer upland pasture to the winter lowland pasture, the dwellers being ininhabitants of mountains, lowland or intermediate villages. Some scientists confounded transhumance to nomadic pasturingeven as White (1970.p.305) determines the high proportion of mountain to plains discourage nomadic pasturing and Matleydemonstrated that in Balkans was not nomadic but transhumance pasturing. Pendulation (transterminace in Spanish,Almwirtschaft in German), is the shift from wintering on lowland village to summer upland, or marginal land pasture. Thiswere the most economic, may be the only possible in old time.

We not that the Balkan Peninsula and the neibourough area is a geographical, historical, may be also anthropologicalunitary complex, even some political people do not accept that. Is possible there is more or less the same genetic populationspeaking different languages; Cavalli-Sfoza (2000, p 151) observed there are some major sources of divergence between

genetic and linguistic trees. Vuia (1964), Matley (1968), Constantinescu (2002) etc faind out that there are manysimilarities of pastoral life between countrie from this area. We note also that the the pastoral life has been studied many timeby historical, geographical, etnogrphal, liguistic sociological scientist, less by animal production one.

Our essay intend to present, on the basis of our obseravation enriched by bibliographical data, some thoughts on thepast, prezent and future of pastoral life, of the biodiversity and of traditional knowledge in sheep production in Balkans withthe aim to visualise the future. It tray to integret not to conpete to one of my former paper on te transhumance in Balkans(2003).

Some historical reconstructions An understanding of the Vlachs culture and its origins

is important for the study of pastoral life in the Balkan

Peninsula

Matley (1968)... The ancient populations (Greek, Illyrian, Tracks, Dacs, Scits ) of Balkans have been forced, according to the climateand to the geomorphology of the area to hold sheep and practice some type of pendulation or transhumance, less probablysedentary or nomadism sheep pastoral systems. In old time was practically difficult to fed on fodder during the winter and toassure year-round grazing was historical imposed.. The climat of the area is favorable for sheep and goat milk production, notto milk cattle production. The Rome Column Traiani and Romanian Tropheum Traiani sheep basso-relief attest the presence ofsheep productionon the region. Perhaps some Valachian (Zackel) breeds are originated from this time (Tsurcana, the Romanianname of Zackel have a Sanskrit etymology).

The Romans, who first describet the transhumance management (Varro 100 b. H.), introduced many sheep breeds inEurope and developed an agricultural technique who lasted up to XIX-th century (White 1970), contributed perhaps to thedevelopment of pastoral life in this region as in others Mediterranean area.).

After the retirement of Roman Empie from Dacia, the collapse of Roman authority in Constantinople (641 year) and

the Slaves arrival in the former East Roman Empire, - the former Romans settlers- and Romanized natives, had to retire fromthe history, from the state life to a sort of tribal one. Thy reappeared in the history as a miracle and an enigme ( )after 400-700 years under the name of Vlachs or Valachs. This name had perhaps for them, as Winnifrith (1985) stated,- a derogatoryconnotation; perhaps that is, noted him, one reason why most Vlachs, with the exception of Meglen Vlachs, do not callthemselves by this name, but as Aromanians (from Rome).. The best place to avoid the reprisals from de new authoritieswere the high mountains. One of he most possible occupation there was the pastoral life, generally the transhumance herding.The Vlachs have managed to exist through the centuries -stated Matley (1968)- almost exclusively by the herding of livestockon mountain pastures.. In fact, so strongly has herding become associated with the Vlachs that in parts of Greece the termvlakhos is used to denote a shepherd, with no ethnic connotation, and since the Middle Ages the term Vlah has been used inSerbia and Bosnia as synonymous with mountain herder of an ethnic group. In Bosnia-Hezegovina continued Matley, theVlahs had become assimilated with the surrounding Slav population, many Vlahs were converted to Islam during the Turkishoccupation. but in spite of losing their language they stil maintain the old Vlah way of life. It seem disputable if the Slavesbring sheep with them and if the Illyrians and Greek heirs were a sheep or goat breeders. Perhaps that is the reason whai

Macom underline that for the study of pastoral life in the Balkans is important to understand the Vlachs culture and itsorigin. Winnifrith (1985) made a big monographic study on Vlachs (190 pag), including their pastoral life. Malcom ( 1996)presented the Vlach s presence in Bosnia-and in Kosovo-(1999). Draganescu (1997) made a study on transhumance inRomania, in Balkans (2005), and (2006) an essay on Vlachs pastoral life.

Matley (1968). is perhaps right. May be it is not a chance that some local sheep breeds from Caspian See to WestCarpathians and Pindus mountains are named Valahian, or have the name of some Vlah trib.There are evidence of strong


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Vlach influence in the mountain area of southern Poland, Slovakia, and Moravia noted Matley (1968), Latin was theadministrative language in the ancient Roman province of Panonia,where the Magyars imposed their language.., a frequentoutcom of conquest. (Cavalli-Sfoza 2000 p.114). Colonization flux here, on South Steppes (of Ukraine), comes from Northand from West. With settled people arrived different breeds of sheep noted Borinevici (1925) and presented the main localsheep-Tsigai and Valahian. Gidarakou and Apostoloupolus (1995) present some data who show that in 1923 there were some2.5 millions transhumant sheep in Greece, and in 1980 some 2 millions. Baldock (1994) report that in spite of the recentdecline in stock number, about one million animals were involved in transhumance in 1991. Muller 1938, elaborate a firstchart on Transhumance routes in the Mediterranean basin reprinted by Braudel, 1966,, Grigg-1974, Draganescu-1996) (fig.1).With the apparition of national state, the transhumant route has been limited just inside of their borders.

Fig. 1.. Transhumance routes in East- Mediterranean basin

Management practice Pastoral sheep production, a low intensive, low in external input, but labor intensive system, isassociated with traditional practices, dating from old time. From the Varro and Columella data presented by White resultthat most of Roman sheep production techique survive up to our days even in different part of the former empire. Acomparative study on three pastoral market types, Marin (2004) found many similarities between transhumance in CentralRomania, Northern Greece (Pindos and Grevena) and France (Pyrenees) In our oppinion in some countries (Albania, Greece)the sheep and goat milk and milk-fed lambs production have been and are more conected than in others (Romania). .Management practice (shepherd, head shepherd, breeding, maintenance of quality of the flock, etc) have been studied by many

scientists. We mention just some ofe them. Campbell 1964, Shein 1975, Chang 1997 quoted by Constantinescu (2004) studiedthe pasturing systems for the Aromanian, especially Sarakatsan tribe in Northern Greece; Laga (1980), Hadjigergiou et alstudied the pastoral system in Greece. Matley (1968) presented the transhumance in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dragomir (1938)and Opreanu (1931) made an large study on transhumance of Romanian shephards in South Rossia. Vuia(1964) made asynthesis of researches on Romanian pasturing and Constantinescu (1976) on Romanian transhumance. It seem however thatShepards are the best practical scientists on sheep management Muller (1938) made the first Europan map on transhumance,developed by Braudel (1965) and Grigg (1974) Draganescu (1996). In Badlock (1994) present an interesting map ontranshumance in Greece..

The truly pastoral systems were the wealthiest commercial low intensity sheep farming system in mountainousareas. They made possible for Balkan human communities to inhabit harsh mountain areas where productionof crops isvirtually impossible and had a great role in nature conservation, in cultural landscape creation. However the last economico-socio-political development putted them in a dangerous decline. Three forces acted against them: (1) the difficult life ofShepards; (2)the animosity of agricultural farmers towards transhumance and even pendulation, because in their routes the

flocs damage crops; (3) the transhumance routes were strict limited to th national borders. Besaid that now the globalisationput difficult economic problems.

Present ( An erosion ?)


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European sheep farming are now under a great economic pressure. The sector experienced in most EC countries

during the last century a drastic change from wool to lamb production, with more than 90 percent of revenues obtained sales oflambs, in strong competition on the world maket. The pressure of trade liberalization on sheep production of Central and EastEuropean countries produced a drastic diminution of wool price, and punted them in a difficult situation, in a struggle tosurvive, as was the under title a FAO symposium held for this countrie (Budapest 1997). The sheep number decreased 9 timein Poland, 3,7 time in Czech republic, but jus to in Romania where the milk production and the tradition made the noneconomic feasibility more supportable. The problem is however complicated now, under the policy reform imposed after theadmission in EU, by the welfare and sanitary- veterinary exigencies imposed. Perhaps the Greek experience and success in thisfield, reflected by Hadjigeorgiou paper, and Marin (2004) study on Capitalism and Transhumance will help to solve thesurvival of pastoral systems in this area.

Although the economic viability of pastoral production, of sheep year-round grazing system, is now the mostimportant problem , we paid attention to a second problem of sustainable development, to some taxonomical complicationswho disturb the production and the scientific cooperation in sheep improvement.

.Weaknesses of sheep taxonomy.Pastoral production has essentially a traditional community breeding system in small region, without herd books, and

breeding societies. Asa result Balkan sheep taxonomy , as all farm animal taxonomy, have a number of serious weaknesses.that prevented them from being useful as breeds identification and classification systems (Draganescu 2006 a). The breedsclassification, their genetic relationships did not received on the past too much scientific- research attention, even it presentalso practical importance. When we speek that a breed is from a phyletic group we understood that he have some morpho-phisiological aspect useful for his identification and he is adapted to some specific utilization.

More of that. The same name is used for different breeds (Tsigai for Tsigai and Ruda breeds) and different name for thesame breeds (table 1), The national and international breeds inventory made by EAAP and FAO did not solve the problem. Wefound (2006 b) that the national and international inventory of Balkan breed are different, that the inventory of undangeredbreeds it is confused and sometimest the breed name is changed without justification. Farm animal taxonomy seems to benow in a paradigm crisis.

Balkan sheep taxonomy , as all farm animal taxonomy, have a number of serious weaknesses .that prevented them frombeing useful as breeds identification and classification systems (Draganescu 2006). The breeds classification, their geneticrelationships did not received on the past too much scientific- research attention, even it present also practical importance.When we speek that a breed is from a phyletic group we understood that he have some morpho-phisiological aspect useful forhis identification and he is adapted to some specific utilization.

.

Table 1

Some confusionms and errors in denomination of some local Romanians breedsBreed denomination in Romania Breed denomination in others countries Correct

breeddenomination

Ratsca(Serbian by some peasants)

Brebis Vachienne (Buffon 1780,Darwin 1865)

O.aries strepsiceros (L) Zackel (Nathusius

1870)=translation of Linnaeus

strepsiceros intro German Racka (Hungary)= Serbian

(meaning generally not noticed) Valaca vitoroga (Serbia), -

Corkscrew horns valahianbreed

( O. paleoegyptica supra breed, see

Ryder p.15). The change of Buffonname-Valachian was proposed byus to avoid confusions to Valachiansuper breed or other Valachianbreeds.

Carabash( named by somepeasants) Blackhead Tsigai,named by some scientists

Tsigai-Serbia, Croatia, exportedalso in Hungary

Milk Tsigai (recent denominationin Hungary).

Pleven Blackhead (Bulgaria, theynoticed that is not Tsigai )

Romanian Black headRuda

(from Blakan Ruda sheepsupra breed, related toBergamasca group)

Tsurcana Romanian Zackel (Simon 1993) Zackel de Transilvania(Hungary) Gyimes Racka (Hungary) Valahian (Russia, Czech,

surcan (Romanian

Valachian) The name Zackelwas a German translation ofthe name of O. aries


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Ukraine, Slovakia etc) Vlahicos (?)-Greek breed VlahBosnia

strepsiceros/= Corkscrewhorns breed

a different taxonomic group

Transhumance have, it seem, some tendency to unify the breeds from his area, but the tribesapparition in Middle Ages and the state borders had the tendency to insulate the breeds . The present

breeds are the result of this interaction. The Greek Vachico breeds seem to be an illustration of thistheory. Vlachico (some of Greek sheep)-effect of transhumance- have many sub breeds (types)according to different Vlach tribe(Gramostiano, Arvanito-Vlachico, Epirotico, Sarkatsanico etc). May

be that is the situation and with other breeds, but the order, the change of breds name made in the lastcentury produced disorders

The future a struggle to survive,

European Charter for Transhumance (Cuenca Spain 1997) underline that Transhumanceconstitutes the maximum exponent of extensive livestock raising systems who respect economic,environmental and social criteria for sustainability. The CAP must visualise a clear action to itsconservation and development.

Mountain landscape, the former summer basis of sheep farming is just a basis for Ruminant. As aresult the sheep have a duble rol to play under the sustainable development imposed by the 21st century.Firs they have a rol in converting noncompetitive feed sources (e.g.,forage, range, crop residues ) andnonprotein nitrogen to food (meat, milk), and other products useful to man; Second, ruminants, especiallysheep, have a great rol in conservation of nonarable area, especially on alpine pasture. Sheep are onlyone grazing species which can be used for landscape maintainance, noted Kurt (1997), and that is veryimportant for alpin area of Balkans and Carpathians.

.For a short time the pastoral systems of some Balkans countries help itself, observe the Charter for Transhumance; his

tipe of production: milk (especially mixed sheep and goat,) milk-fed lambs production, and the the wool as a by productinsure some economic suport. On a medium and long term the problem is more complicated, and it seem that the fact is notobserved. Pastoral life erosion start from a long time. Now is easy to lose it at all and will be practically impossible torestore it because we lose in the sametime the traditional knovelage. .

Protection of traditional knowledgeThe conservation of traditional production systems, implicit the biodiversity depend on preservation and protection of

traditional knowledge, It include knowe;ledge about the uses, sustainable management of . The Convention on BiologicalDiversity (UNEP 1992) who came into force in 1993 and has been ratified by 189 countries, reconaises the value of theKnowledge for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. It requires countries to respect, preserve andmaintain traditional knowledge sharing of benefit from their article 8 (j)). However, this knowledge is under increasing threat.and they is rapidly. disappering with the old generation of shepherds. International and national policies have so far proveninadequate to protect this knowledge.

Sustainable utilization of local sheep genetic resources.The conservation of genetic resources is connected to their identification, tosheep taxonom For solving the crisis inFarm animal Taxonomy, we proposed (2006 a) to develop a Farm Animal Taxonomy Science starting from the progress ofZoological Taxonomy. In this paper we propose again for critical discussion a Diagnostic key for identification, denominationand classification of of some Central and South-eastern Europe Sheep phyletic group of breeds (annex 1) and three SugestedCladogram of group breeds from this region (annex 2a,b,c). We hope that a critical aproach of scientist from our region willimprove and adopt them. In such context we supose to discussion the folowind proposed sheep breeds phyletic groups for ourregion.

We considered that in Balkan and in neiborough countries there are 6 Philetic groups of sheeps: 1).Ruda, related to Bergamasca and having some similarities to it 2)Tsigai, related to Merino ; 3)Corkscrews horns Valachian descend from the old Egyptian sheep, denominated by Buffon and Darwin

Valachian , by Linaeus O.a. strepsiceros, translated into German by Nathusius as Zackel (strepsiceros= Zackel,); to

avoid confusions we use the Serbian name-Valaska vitoroga=Corkscrew Valachian or conserv the Nathusius nameZackel. 4) Valachian with mixed wool, erroneus named Zackel (Ryder p.175 made practically the correction); in any country

the name Zackel was not used for a breed, but the name Valachian is still used at least in Russia, Ukraine, Czech,


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Slovakia. Primentas (1957) quoted by Ryder, gives the name Valchica to the Valachian stock which is thecommonest sheep in Balkans

5). Vlahian (!?)) similar morpho-phisiologicaly to Valachian, but having in our impression more or just coarse wool(as Corkscrews horns Valachian)

6). Fat tail or Ramp breeds, who penetrated from Asia Minor.It seem that the transhumance studies can clarify some historical interesting problems in taxonomy. Some Balkan sheep

breeds are connected with some extinct tribes. The Karakatsan (=Saracatsanico) are the sheep of the tribe of Saracaciani(=pauper people) and is the same or related to Greek Sarakawith, Corkscrew Valachian of a Valachian tribe who use to live inSerbia and Montenegro

The easiest and cheapest method of in situ conservationNow the conservation of many sheep breeds even of sheep production are subsidized in many EU countries. In

Germany some 50% of sheep farms come from subsidies. The problem of more poor countries and for future perhaps of alcountries is to find the cheapest way of conservation in site. In our opinions there are two possibility of a soch conservation: 1.conservation of traditional production systems improving their economical efficiency; 2.conservation in natural reservation,natural parks of some endangered breeds. The Natural Parks, the reservation for nature preservationcan include also someendangered breeds of domestic animals. The Hungary experience in this field can be an example also for Balkan countries.

References

Baldock D 9 (Ed) ( 1994) The Nature of Farming ;The extent and Location of Low Intensity Farming Systems-Greece,Hungary pp. 24-27 IEEP LondonBRAUDEL F., (1965) - La Mediterranee et le monde mediterraneen a lepoque de Philippe II, Armand Colin Paris st )Campbell I., K. (1964) Honour, Family a Patronage.A Study 0f Institutions and Moral Value in Greek Mountain Commun

i ty. Oxf.Univ.PressChang, Cl., Tourtellotte, P. C. (1993)Ethnoarheological Survey of Pastoral Transhumance Sites in the Grevena

Region,Greece, Journal of Field Archaeology, 20, 249-264CONSTANTINESCU - MIRCESTI C., (1976) - Transhumant sheep production in the XVIII-th - XIX-th centuries.

Ed.Acad., Bucuresti(n Romanian)DRAGOMIR ,C. (1938)Sibiu Margin shepards in Bassarabia, Caucasus, Crimea and N.America., Lucr. Inst.Geogr.

Cluj: VI 154-298 ( in RomanianDRAGANESCU C.,(1994)d - Polish Mountain Breed a Cladogenetic autogenTsurcana Breed. Poc.Sym.Rare Farm

Anim.Cons. Balice, Cracow:260-266., (1994) - An attempt to theFiletic classification of Walachian Zackel) and Tsigai Breeds.

Stocarstvo (Zagreb) 9,10, 395-401.; (1995)- Origine and relationship between Walachian (Zackel) and Tsigai sheep breedsfrom the Danubian area. Stocarstvo., Zagreb 49: (9-12) 321-327.; (1996) - Azov Tsigai, Chushka and Steppe Voloshianbranches of Romanian Tsigai and Tsurcana,47 EAAP Lillehammer, ; (1996) 1997.Transhumance and relaionship betweensheep breeds in Central. Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean area. In: EAAP Publ.85:104-107.; 1998 Romanian Sheepproduction; spectacular past, Decline, Incertain Future.In: Kukovics S(ed) Sheep and Goat Production in Central and EasternEuropean Countries.FAO-Rome: 179-187 ; 2001 An Attempt to a Phyletic Classification of Balcan Native Sheep. SimpozionBalcanic-Tekidag; 2003 A note on transhumance in Balkans Balnimalcom 2; 2006 a For a new paradigm in farm animaltaxonomy ERFP Antalia; 2006 b On breed phyletic gropup and name of Balcan native sheep breeds. Tirana

DUNARE N., (1984) - Types traditionelles de vie pastorale dans les regions carpatiques de paturage et de fenaisons(Roumanie Pologne, Tchecoslovaquie, Hongrie), Travaux Simp.Clermont-Ferrant, p:55-58. GRIGG, D.E., (1974) - The Agricultural Systems of the World . Cambridge Univ. Press.

HATZIMIONOGLU J., (1995) - Legislation,... Le case de la Grece, in Terres collectives en Mediterranee, pp 91-116Hadjigeorgiou i., Vallerand F., Tsimpoukas K, Zervas G. The socio-economcs of sheep and goat farming in Greece,

and the implications for future rural developmentfutureLaga V.1986 Systemes delevage ovins latiers transhumants de Grece Centrale These dr. MontpellierMalcom Noel 1996 Bosnia-a short history. NY Univ.Press.; 1999 Kosovo-a short history Harper PressMarin C. 2004 Capitalism and transhumance: A comparison of tree Pastoral Market Types in Europe (1950-2000)

Yerbook of New Europe College:57116Marinow 1961- Die Schaftzuht der nomadisseren Karakatschnen in Bulgaria n Viehzucht und Hirtenleben in

Mitelleuropa Budapest 1961.p1g 147-Vuia 184)Mason I.L. 1999 World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds ed 4. CAB Int. p.314Opreanu S., (1931) - Transhumance in Oriental Carpathians., Lucr.Inst.Geogr. Cluj IV: 223 - 244 (in Romanian)Muller E.(1938) - Die Herdenwanderungen in Mittelmeer. In Petermanns MittelungenRyder M.L. Stephenson S.K. 1968 Wool Growth Acad.Press L.NY Ryder, M. *1994)Observation on Vlach

Sheep=Milking and Milk-Processing in South-East Europe, Antropozoologica, 20, 3/10Sivignon M. (1968) Les Pasteur du Pind Septentrional de Revue de Geographie dfe Lyon, 43,(1-4),5-

Vuia R. 1964. Tipuri de pstorit la romni Ed.Acad.Rom.,White K. D. 197o. Roman Farming. Cornell Univ.PressWinnifrith T. J. 1985 The Vlachs: The History of a Balkan People. St.Martin PressEuropean Charter for Transhumance. Cuenca, Spain October 31, 1997


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.Annex 1 Suggested diagnostic key for identification, denomination and classification of of someCentral and South-eastern Europe Sheep group of breeds

Breeds

Blackhead

(andfeet)Ruda

Erroneousnamed Tsigai

Brown

faceRuda

Erroneous namedTsigai ?

Valachian-kempt andwool

Vlachian.-kempt wool

Tsigai Ruda Corkscrw Valachian I Fat


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Origine Woolly sheepfrom

Mesopotamia(/)

Bergamasca BlakheadRuda xTsigai ?

O.longipedespaleoaegytia

cus **Tsigai

cythian

(Asiatic Hairy)II)

Relatedbreeds

MerinoBritish

Down breeds

Other BalkanRuda breeds

BlackheadRuda

Tsigai

Tail length Long thin tail (over 13 vertebras)

Ears type Hanging, longears

Hanging,semi long

Horns Coiled horns inrams; hornless orrudimentary horns

in ewes

Hornless Hornlessor

rudimentary horns

corkscrewhorns

protrudehorizontally

or in V-s

Coiled hornsin rams;

hornless orrudimentary

horns in ewes

Coiled hornsin rams;

hornless orrudimentary

horns in ewesNose

profileConformation

TypeAngular-blocky(mezomorph)

Angular BlockyDolicomorph) Brevimorf

AngularDolicomorph

)

AngularDolicomorph

)

AngularDolicomorph)

Development(Size)

Medium-small(eumetric)

Large(Hipermetric)

Large-medium

mediumsmall

mediumsmall

medium small(eumetric)

Production Milk,meat,wool Meat.milk,wool

Milk,meat,wool

Milk,meat,wool

Milk,meat,wool

Milk,meat,wool

Fleece : Medium wool Medium-coarse wool

Medium-coarsewool

Mixed(70 % kempt

Mixed wool.Some 20%

kempts- outercoat long

Mixed wool.Over 70 %kempt coat

Breeding season Restricted,

in the autumn

Prolonged Prolonged Restricted Restricted, in

the autumn

Restricted,

in the autumnBreeds included All Tsigai breeds All Balkan Ruda breeds HungarianSerbian

Romanian

All Valachian breeds,including the native Vlach

breeds developed into breedsColor White dominant to

black, with brown,reddish, whiteface and legs

White withblack face and

legs

Whitewithbrownface andlegs

White withbrown face

or black

White wool (recessive to blackor other colour)) with different

colour on face and legs

Sedentary SedentaryProductionsystem

Sedentary-transhumance

Sedentary Sedentarytranshumanc

e

Sedentarytranshumance

* Early Egyptian ( 1000 BC)Mixed woolen sheep,

Corkscrew horns, thin long tailed

* Walachian sheep(Corkscrew horns sheep)

(Buffon 1780, Linnaeus,

Darwin 1865)Ovis aries strepsiceros-L.

* Valaska Vitoroga* Balusha* Romanian Ratsca

* Hungarian Racka

* N.E. Africa sheep


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Annex 2.C. Suggested cladogram for Walachian (Zackel) philetic group of sheep breeds-(modified from Drgnescu 1998)


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Abstract

On the pastoral life in BalkansC. Drgnescu Agricultural University, IBNA Bucharest Romaniaand South-Eastern Europe-Past, present, future

Milk sheep production has been since antiquity a feature of Balkans and his neibourough area who is a geographical, historical,may be also anthropological an unitary complex,. This production was favored by climat, geomophology, socio-economic-historical conditions ,and caracterised by some truly pastoral systems, with free-ranging stock, not housed at farm every nightand year-round grazing (transhumance, pendulation). Our essay present, on the basis of our obseravation enriched bybibliographical data, some thoughts on the past, and prezent of pastoral life with the aim to visualise the future. The trulypastoral systems were the wealthiest commercial low intensity sheep farming system in mountainous areas. It and hissheep genetic reources is originated from the ancien Balkan people, but with a stong influence from the imigrants, especiallyRomans, transmited by their succesors-the Vlachs and the Valachs. The word Vlah was synonim to shephard, the pastoraltehnology is still similar to that describet by Varro and Columella and and some country directed the production to the wool..As a result, the last economico-socio-political and scientific development putted them in a dangerous decline. For his

struggle to survive, are presented some suggestions for avoiding the weaknesses of sheep production and especially of sheep.taxonomy. A diagnostic key for identification, denomination and classification of of sheep bree and three sugested philetic treeof breeds from this area is prroposed propose for critical discussion and final elaboration by the scientist from the Balkancountries

draganescu.c.2007

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