Some young people return to the field to counteract the lack of generational renewalof an activity that has been years in retreat. Tourism and technology are the new allies
Shepherds schools trying to retrieve one of the oldest trades
Santi Sierra, an apprentice pastor, in the Valley of the Montseny
Not all pastors of today carry garrota and beret. Now, next to the inseparablehaversack and dogs, sheep herders come to systems of genetic improvement toincrease meat production. They promote the zeal of the animals to increase thenumber of births of lambs on implants of melatonin or vaginal sponges. They haveautomated systems feed the pens and chips to consult quickly the basic data of eachanimal. In the case that a sheep runs
out wayward, a warning system GPS (satellitepositioning) sends an alarm through a pastor mobile application. It is called Geofence.
out wayward, a warning system GPS (satellitepositioning) sends an alarm through a pastor mobile application. It is called Geofence.
«There are almost no shepherds, and most are already old»
All this and more is necessary to weather the decline of an industry that has suffered afall in the production of Lamb of 50% since 2002 and a progressive number of cattledecline since 2000, according to data from the Ministry of agriculture, food andenvironment. If the first rural exodus and the housing bubble later, the figure of theShepherd made a picture not so prevalent in the field, the economic crisis and theneed to return to nature have appreciated a trade, which is considered an essentialpart of the environment, people and tourism.
That would explain the emergence ofnew concepts as the schools of shepherds, the «theme parks» of the sheep or theintensive farms are turning to the most advanced technology.
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"There are almost no shepherds, and most are already old; I am of the few young people...", laments Jordi, of 42 years, and adding two decades as masovero (notowner) of the finca Les Muntades, in the massif of the Montseny (Barcelona). Along with his wife, Silvia, and their two daughters, Jordi devoted himself for a time to thebreeding of dairy cows, then to the pigs and finally remained alone with a herd ofAlpine goat, a breed of French origin. Now even manufactures an exquisite cheesethat has already reached about 200 restaurants. "I managed to close the circle",summarizes.
"Animals have always liked me, and already small I wanted to live country"
At his side, Santi Serra, aged 26, is listening carefully. Speaks little, just enough, andtries to learn the craft working and living in the (cattle) meek of Jordi to achievesomeday take a goat's milk cheese in his hometown, Alpens (Barcelona). For now,focuses on completing his training as a student of the only school for pastors ofCatalonia, one of the four that exist in Spain, together with Andalusia, Asturias and theBasque country. All of them offer a new way of learning a trade threatened by lack ofgenerational.
"Animals have always liked me, and already small I wanted to live country, in thefield," acknowledges Santi. His grandparents raised cattle, but their parents alreadyengaged in other works. Now, he returns to the origins. At the moment, it has nogoats or land where grazing animals or small farm I would need. However, do not bediscouraged, and responds with a silent and shy smile when Jordi advised to form afamily to meet your desired destination in the field. "It is hard work for a single man,believe me."
Shepherds schools trying to retrieve one of the oldest trades
Santi Serra, alongside a goat in Montseny, Barcelona (Inés Baucells)
Explains Vanesa Freixa, responsible for the pastoral School of Catalonia, located inRialp (Lérida), 116 students who have already gone through «classrooms» havereceived training during one month theoretical and practical during four others inMeek as the Jordi. After that period, 64% of those who finished the course find work,either by account alien or autoempleando is. But even so, warns that not all applicantscome to fruition: «There are some who deceived, with an idea of this profession, liveand work in the countryside, very wrong», interjects Jordi from Montseny. "It's hard,sacrificed. Any mistake costs money. If one day you forget milk a goat, the next daywill have a mastitis», sentence.
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A pastor for 22 years
Almost at the other end of Spain, María Joseph, a pastor for 22 years in Santiago de laEspada (Jaén), agrees with the affirmation of catalan: «is a very hard work, especially ifthe weather is bad. When that happens must be locked to the sheep, and we mustwork even more». Said another difficult moment coincides with the birth of lambs,because then it has to be