Manade
Encyclopedia
A manade is a term used mainly in the Camargue
area in France
for a semi-feral
group of Camargue cattle
or horses
led by a gardian
, or herder. In French, the word manade dates from 1867. In older texts it also referred to herds of sheep, but modern use of the term is limited only to raising groups of larger livestock.
Raising animals in manades is specific for the Crau
, Camargue (Provence
) and Petite Camargue (Languedoc
) regions of France, and therefore the term itself is strongly associated with the same area.
s of reproductive age and grazing on at least 20 hectares (49 acres).
"Extensive breeding" means that the animals move around freely looking for suitable vegetation for their feed and that no extra feed in provided. As a rule the role of the gardian is minimal: with the exception of emergencies, the animals are gathered up only once a year for a health check, branding
and gelding
of selected males.
Since both cattle
and horses
have long been raised in the same fashion in the same areas, inter-species herds are often formed. Even the terminology referring to animals of different age as well as some terms of herding apply to both horses and cattle. Each individual breeder has their unique brand for marking the animals on the left haunch.
Today, the French national association of horse breeders (Haras Nationaux) has further refined the definition of living conditions for animals in a manade: "a manade means raising Camargue horses in freedom with at least four mares in reproductive age stationed the year long in the native area of the breed (berceau de la race), in an area with only one animal over 18 months of age per two hectares in an area of at least 20 hectares owned or rented by an individual." The rules for raising Camargue cattle in a way meriting the use of the AOC-label (Taureau de Camargue Appellation d'origine contrôlée
, "controlled designation of origin" ), are much in the same vein: both dry and humid areas necessary, six months of grazing in a humid area obligatory each year, "extensive breeding," less than 1 grown animal per 1,5 hectares (3,7 acres) of heath
or pasture
.
). As regards horse breeding, only breeders who raise their animals in manades in the native area of the breed are entitled to use the word Manade in the name of their establishment. All others must be called Élevage or ranch
. Horses are always present even if a Manade specialises in cattle, since by tradition the Camargue horse is the only mount of a gardian.
Camargue
The Camargue is the region located south of Arles, France, between the Mediterranean Sea and the two arms of the Rhône River delta. The eastern arm is called the Grand Rhône; the western one is the Petit Rhône....
area in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for a semi-feral
Feral
A feral organism is one that has changed from being domesticated to being wild or untamed. In the case of plants it is a movement from cultivated to uncultivated or controlled to volunteer. The introduction of feral animals or plants to their non-native regions, like any introduced species, may...
group of Camargue cattle
Camargue cattle
The Camargue cattle breed, in Provençal: Raço di bioù, is native to the Camargue marshlands of the delta of the River Rhone in southern France. The cattle are black in color with upward sweeping horns...
or horses
Camargue (horse)
The Camargue horse is an ancient breed of horse indigenous to the Camargue area in southern France. For centuries, possibly thousands of years, these small horses have lived wild in the harsh environment of the Camargue marshes and wetlands of the Rhone delta. There they developed the stamina,...
led by a gardian
Gardian
A gardian is a mounted cattle herdsman in the Camargue delta in Provence, southern France. The work is akin to that of the charro or cowboy....
, or herder. In French, the word manade dates from 1867. In older texts it also referred to herds of sheep, but modern use of the term is limited only to raising groups of larger livestock.
Raising animals in manades is specific for the Crau
Crau
The Crau is the ancient confluence of the Durance and Rhône, and constitutes their vast flat alluvial fan.-Agriculture:The Crau is composed of two different parts:The dry Crau is in the south, and has been used as pasture from Roman times...
, Camargue (Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
) and Petite Camargue (Languedoc
Languedoc
Languedoc is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, and whose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées. It had an area of approximately 42,700 km² .-Geographical Extent:The traditional...
) regions of France, and therefore the term itself is strongly associated with the same area.
Conditions of breeding
In 1967 the Camargue Horse Breeders' Association of France (Association des éleveurs de chevaux de race Camargue or AECRC) defined the term manade to refer to the "extensive breeding" of horses at liberty and out of doors in groups of at least four mareMare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
s of reproductive age and grazing on at least 20 hectares (49 acres).
"Extensive breeding" means that the animals move around freely looking for suitable vegetation for their feed and that no extra feed in provided. As a rule the role of the gardian is minimal: with the exception of emergencies, the animals are gathered up only once a year for a health check, branding
Livestock branding
Livestock branding is a technique for marking livestock so as to identify the owner. Originally, livestock branding only referred to a hot brand for large stock, though the term is now also used to refer to other alternative techniques such as freeze branding...
and gelding
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
of selected males.
Camargue cattle
The Camargue cattle breed, in Provençal: Raço di bioù, is native to the Camargue marshlands of the delta of the River Rhone in southern France. The cattle are black in color with upward sweeping horns...
and horses
Camargue (horse)
The Camargue horse is an ancient breed of horse indigenous to the Camargue area in southern France. For centuries, possibly thousands of years, these small horses have lived wild in the harsh environment of the Camargue marshes and wetlands of the Rhone delta. There they developed the stamina,...
have long been raised in the same fashion in the same areas, inter-species herds are often formed. Even the terminology referring to animals of different age as well as some terms of herding apply to both horses and cattle. Each individual breeder has their unique brand for marking the animals on the left haunch.
Today, the French national association of horse breeders (Haras Nationaux) has further refined the definition of living conditions for animals in a manade: "a manade means raising Camargue horses in freedom with at least four mares in reproductive age stationed the year long in the native area of the breed (berceau de la race), in an area with only one animal over 18 months of age per two hectares in an area of at least 20 hectares owned or rented by an individual." The rules for raising Camargue cattle in a way meriting the use of the AOC-label (Taureau de Camargue Appellation d'origine contrôlée
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
, "controlled designation of origin" ), are much in the same vein: both dry and humid areas necessary, six months of grazing in a humid area obligatory each year, "extensive breeding," less than 1 grown animal per 1,5 hectares (3,7 acres) of heath
Heath
-Habitats:* Heath or heathland, low-growing woody vegetation, mostly consisting of heathers and related species* Heaths in the British National Vegetation Classification system...
or pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
.
Names of breeding establishments
The term manade is often seen in names of different establishments related to cattle and horse breeding. A manade is led by a manadier (bayle in ProvençalProvençal
Provençal may refer to:*Provençal, meaning "of Provence", a region of France*Provençal dialect, a dialect of the Occitan language, spoken in the south-east of France*Provençal, meaning the whole Occitan language...
). As regards horse breeding, only breeders who raise their animals in manades in the native area of the breed are entitled to use the word Manade in the name of their establishment. All others must be called Élevage or ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
. Horses are always present even if a Manade specialises in cattle, since by tradition the Camargue horse is the only mount of a gardian.