A total of 204 heads of French Blanche du Massif Central and five heads of Noir du Velay purebred sheep and rams have been distributed to 16 farmers in Tavush, Shirak and Lori regions of Armenia as well as the Armenian National Agrarian University, with EU support.
Both breeds are efficient meat breeds, adapted to mountainous areas, resistant to dry summers and cold winter climates.
The EU Green Agriculture Initiative in Armenia (EU-GAIA) project is funded by the European Union in Armenia and co-funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation, and partially implemented by the UNDP in Armenia.
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Within the framework of the European Union-GAIA Armenia project, component of which is being delivered by UNDP in Armenia, about 204 heads of French Blanche du Massif Central and 5 Noir Du Vellay purebred sheep and rams were distributed to 16 farmers in #Tavush, #Shirak and #Lori regions of #Armenia as well as Armenian National Agrarian University. The Noir Du Vellay breed is imported to Armenia for the first time, whereas the Blanche breed for the second time. These breeds are considered an efficient meat breeds, adapted to the mountainous areas, resistant to dry summers and cold winter climates.
The beneficiary farmers selected in the second phase of the Agribusiness Support Program, in accordance with their sheep breeding development programs, plan to breed these highly efficient meat breeds, as well as to improve the efficiency of local breeds through crossbreeding with the French breed. Thus, the beneficiary farmers will have the opportunity to increase the efficiency of sheep breeding and receive additional incomes.
On October 13, a sheep-breeding training seminar was held on the topic of keeping, care and reproduction of the above-mentioned two French breeds. About 25 participants were greeted live by François Tahon, Technical Officer of the Blanche Breeding Station in France, who presented the characteristics of the breed to the beneficiary farmers. The training was conducted by Zorik Pambukhchyan, Associate Professor of Animal Husbandry at the Armenia National Agrarian University. At the end of the training, the sheep were distributed according to the animal license plates, based on which the sheep were given to the beneficiaries on October 25.
The EU Green Agriculture Initiative in Armenia (EU-GAIA) project is funded by the European Union in Armenia and co-funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation. The project is jointly implemented by the Austrian Development Agency and UNDP in Armenia.
