Transhumance, as a traditional way of moving animals through different landscapes, initiates a variety of human-nature interactions, mirrored in many traditions and a large diversity of products. The training module provides an insight into transhumance linking economic activities, which create synergies among sustainable land use and biotopes preservation, water supply management, high value food production and recreational facility provision. A list of available European formal and informal training material enriches the possibilities of (self-)study and makes the training and education material international.
Transhumance is a human-animal activity interacting with different environments and landscapes. It is especially important for the maintenance of landscape types such as alpine meadows and heathlands. Transhumance has economic and social benefits for residents, contributes to the management of protected biotopes, and helps to maintain the landscape’s character. The following transhumance landscapes exist:
Alp: Alpes are vast areas of high mountain pastures / alpine pastures. The pasture landscape (alp) includes buildings, where herders, dairymaids and dairymen spend several months. Furthermore, alp is a synonym for common land in the mountains. Transhumance occurs between at least two different altitudes, in Switzerland up to four. The long-distance movement is between a main settlement and a seasonal settlement twice a year. After arrival at the seasonal settlement, the daily movement occurs within the alp. Due to an increase in predators, herders are re-introduced.
Common land: Common land is land used by the community of one or several municipalities or (all) farmers of an area. Common land occurs in, for example, mountains and may be located close to villages. It sometimes includes (small) forests. Common land is not a specific type of landscape but a legal model. It has been the basis for transhumance but is disappearing.
Montado, Dehesa: Dehesa (Spanish) or Montados (Portuguese) are Mediterranean wood pastures, combining native trees such as holm oak and cork oak with grasslands. The tree cover is open but provides shadow, the grasslands provide fodder. Dehesa/Montados are landscapes of high biodiversity. They reached their greatest extent when long-distance transhumance was at its maximum. The pigs for Jamón Ibérico de Bellota gain at least 40% of their live weight only through the acorns of the holm oak (bellota means “acorn”) and herbs.
Heathland: Heathlands are extensive uncultivated pasturelands. Podsols are the typical soil types. The vegetation is dominated by dwarf ericaceous shrubs, dwarf oak, and juniper. Heathlands are generally warmer and drier than moorlands. Heathlands occur along the coasts (e.g. Mediterranean coasts), in the plains (e.g. Germany) and in the high mountains (e.g. France). The landscape is kept open by grazing and, in some cases, controlled fire management.
Dykes: Dykes are artificial embankments along rivers and especially the coast to protect land and settlements from water. Sheep are needed to maintain the dykes, keep the grass short and the soil compact.
Table 1. Transhumance characteristics
| Type of transhumance | Alp | Montado/Dehesa | Heathland | Dykes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Type of transhumance |
Vertical |
Horizontal |
Horizontal |
Horizontal |
|
Products |
Milk, cheese, meat Landscapes attractive for tourism Landscape management |
Well-known local products, e.g. meat products Landscape management |
Honey, meat Landscapes attractive for tourism Landscape management |
Protection against flooding Landscape management |
|
Typical livestock |
Cattle, sheep, goats |
Pig, cattle (Spain), sheep (Greece) |
Sheep, often special breeds, e.g. German heath sheep, white horned head) |
Sheep |
|
Case studies |
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Transhumance is a multifunctional activity. Therefore, interactions with other professions are more than welcome to increase benefits for all actors (farmers, dairymaids/-men, herders, etc) and society. Multifunctionality often is depending on involvement of family members. Multifunctionality can include:
The unit addresses challenges common to all EU countries and highlights country-specific challenges. Networking and, sharing experiences and knowledge through good practices or exchange platforms can be helpful in solving problematic situations.
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Information about shepherds’ guard dogs:
Source: Region Savoie in France
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Attacks by predators can be only partly eliminated. If we want to preserve the nature of transhumance, which is characterised by the free movement of livestock without electric fences it is important
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Different approaches exist:
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For information about wool and processing alternatives see the Transfarm factsheet about wool.
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Multifunctionality – establishing various activities – can be a solution:
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Founding specific transhumance/shepherding schools is supported by the European Parliament in a report from 2018. Shepherding schools focusing on transhumance shall be set up in those Member States where this kind of practice is common. Besides employment in livestock farming that will favour generational renewal, education enhances the dignity and social recognition of the traditional transhumance profession. The education situation varies a lot among different European countries. While for instance, Spain and France have a well-developed system of shepherds’ schools, other countries have only one or few schools including transhumance in their study programmes (e.g. Slovakia and Germany). Even model teaching and training at real farms can be in sharp contrast to the reality students meet after graduation. Playful and interactive forms of education through competitions or contests, help to improve the quality of the students’ training and prepare them for real business. The ERASMUS+ mobility program funds summer camps for student training. Students and transhumance practitioners searching for good practice examples from different countries will find inspiration in the TRANSFARM case studies. Last but not least practical training on pastures during a summer season is very important for students. They need to test real-life conditions on seasonal farms.
Here is a collection of short information and weblinks about shepherd schools and schools including transhumance in their study programmes from the countries of the project consortium.
VET-offers in several parts of France
Vocational school for training in the profession of animal farmer which offers “herder”:
Berufsbildende Schulen des LK Saalekreis, Standort “Carl Wentzel”, Delitzscher Str. 45, 06112 Halle, E-Mail: kontakt.cw@bbs-saalekreis.bildung-lsa.de
There is a boarding school for participants
No official VET-offer.
No official VET-offer.
‘Il pastore è un guardiano del futuro’ (The shepherd is a guardian of future), Aim: ‘to reflect on pastoralism, safeguard and regeneration of territories’
Organised by SNAP (see 1), first introduced in 2023 with worldwide participants.
org.wwoof.it/…/national-school-of-shepherding (in English)
iisgaribaldimacerata.edu.it (in Italian)
Some shepherd schools offer non-formal training, mostly private schools run by foundations or non-profit organisations. E.g.:
Several organisations, including public agencies, organise courses on very specific aspects related to transhumance, such as cheese making, regulatory changes, sanitary aspects, insurance, like National farmers Unions (ASAJA, COAG and UPA), the Cheesemakers network and Cooperativas Agroalientarias.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
