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2011
Indietro
Categoria
Natura e UniversoTag
DOVE
(BG), Lombardia - Italia
The area migrant sheep farmers get across in Lombardy is quite large. In summer months they climb the valleys and live in alpine huts in Valtellina, Valbrembana, Valseriana, Valcamonica nd close valleys. Some sheep farmers practice transhumance also in Piedmont.When they are in low valleys, shepherds still occupy a vast territory, namely the following: areas around Milano, Lodi, Pavia, Crema, Cremona, Brescia Mantova and lots in the Bergamo plain.
CHI
Sheep farmers practicing transhumance
In 2011 sheep farmers practicing transhumance in Lombardy were about 60, their flocks being between 1000 and 1500 sheep of the giant Bergamo breed. We met fifteen sheepherders. Transhumance is the seasonal trek in springtime of livestock from low valleys to high mountains pastures in the Alps and their descent in autumn. Many shepherds still walk up, others prefer to drive cattle trucks. Climbing up on foot, despite the difficulty caused by traffic and by rivers to be crosses, is still the cheapest way to move. On top of it, emotive and professional reasons are called on; the march on foot is traditional. Moreover the systematic employment of the resources is part of the farmer's "mission" and it is useful to keep certain rapports balanced. The sheep farmers preside their territory so to avoid that others might come in.
The "monticazione" – the way up and the "demonticazione" – the way down to and fro alpine pastures can take from 10 to 20 days, according to the availability grassland, the weather and the possible hindrances on the way. The shepherd's job is calculated on constable variables, some of which can be verified just by inspections and surveys on the spot. Cattle trucks are the modern version of transhumance, definitely a quicker alternative though more costly. Downloading all the animals takes up to 4 hours. Animals are divided according to their size, the smaller divided by the larger so that they are not crushed. Upon arrival, the download is immediate and then they are led to the closet grassland on foot.
Nowadays sheep farmers travel on a pick-up truck with a trailer for weaker animals and a caravan. As far as the transhumance on foot donkeys are still crucial; for example lambs are transported on their pack saddles. Dogs have also a fundamental role and usually they close the ranks. By migrant livestock we mean here the constant move of cattle in the valley in order to find new grass. Each sheep farmer owns an area, very often he/she has inherited it by the parents or as bought it by other farmers who have ceased the activity or changed their working area. It is a verbal handover, nothing is written. Each farmer knows where boundaries are, where the others stand, whether he/she has the right to make agreements with the other farmers for pastures or not. This right to access and use an area is called "batida". Each sheep farmer defends it with gritted teeth because it guarantees the survival to the livestock.
Many breeders lament clandestine border violation, which on top of using resources which they are not entitled to, might ruin rapports with agricultural farmers. The "batida"is a complex and frail balance, resulting from long settled relationships, old deals and progressive negotiations. It must be looked after and defended, since it is not legally protected.
Relocation in the valley can be very time close. Springtime is the most difficult time due to the sowing activity. Grass is more difficult to be found. Transhumance across the villages takes place during the night in order to bother as little as possible the inhabitants.
In summer sheepherders can be lodged in an Alpine hut which they usually equip by carrying all the necessary on donkey back. They also have dogs whose role is fundamental to watch the animals and prevent sheep from falling into crevices and from cliffs. Usually the rapport between dog and owner is hard but loving. The dog would obey to just one owner and the shepherd can tend to just one dog. No herdsman can do without a dog.
Some sheep farmers see life in high mountains as a dimension closer to their own. Sheep-shearing is the time that ends the stay of the herd in the valley and announces their transhumance to the high mountains pastures. In the same way it precedes their going back to the valley once the alpine season is over. Therefore traditional sheep-shearing occurs twice a year, in May and in September. In past times there was also an important economic side to it. Up to the '70s wool was used to make pillows and mattresses. Women also used to value wool for its therapeutic qualities.
Nowadays wool is more of a cost to the shepherds than anything else. Hence they choose to have a sheep-shearing only once a year. Rarely shepherds renounce to the shearing in May since summer would be too hot for the animals. Another reason is sheer appearance, since sheep would look too shabby and shepherds are proud of their beautiful animals to show when they cross villages during their transhumance. They do not like hearing criticisms.
September sheep-shearing is a real fest. The migrant shepherd goes back to his home village to shear. Here his family and the village natives help along. Men pull the animals to the electric shears, while women collect the wool that will later on be pack for transportation.
Nowadays sheep-shearing is managed by a team of professional shearers, while in the past each shepherd was able to shear his own sheep with a metallic tool called forbes. Now that wool is not remunerative any longer, Lombard shepherds make a profit from the sale of their meat to Muslim butcheries. Sales are concentrated in some specific moments in the year corresponding to Muslim festivities.
Tools, practices, uses and know-out of the transhumant shepherds in Lombardy are a complex heritage which grounds its roots in old expertise and traditions. Nowadays transhumant sheep farming is strictly regulated. Transfers, butchery, hygienic standards, newborn animals and dead ones must be registered. Shepherds often lament about the excessive bureaucracy. Authorizations are quite pressing, the rapports with rangers and local authorities are more and more complex and the rules and regulations concerning the Alpine huts protect shepherds very little.
APPRENDIMENTO E TRASMISSIONE
The passing on of values and job awareness happens very often through storytelling. On the contrary the transmission of knowledge and know-out is connected to examples and learning by doing. Very often this job is inherited by the family; children start learning following their fathers or uncles' steps. Currently some projects regarding specializing training courses on the matter are being evaluated.
COMUNITÀ
Currently transhumant sheep farmers in Lombardy count about to 60. During our survey we met 15, mostly coming from Bergamo area or comuni, some from the Bassa plain. It is difficult to talk about a real community in the strict sense and also the Associazione dei pastori lombardi – Lombardy Shepherds Association – has little influence on individual sheep farmers. They all feel, though, they are representing a profession which has old roots and that is trying to survive in one way or another. Surviving is connected to sharing and passing on memories, knowledge, best practices, which have partly been consolidated by tradition, partly renovated by new technologies and know-out.
In this process of passing on traditions and expertise, the elder generation (around 40 to 60 years old now) has a key role. The young generation (25-35-year-olds) is collaborating to their preservation by both using traditional practices and introducing new technological instruments. On top of sheep farmers' sons and daughters, also helpers belong to the new generation. In the past helpers had the chance to emancipate and become in their turn shepherds; nowadays their figure has totally changed. Most of them are now foreigners and vey rarely they stay on the territory they have worked on. Few helpers are of Italian origins and in that case very often they are potential future entrepreneurs. It is generally believe that if this expertise has to keep on being passed on from father to son or to some other shepherds external to family business, sheep farming must improve its reputation, its image and above all go back to being a remunerative business.
AZIONI DI VALORIZZAZIONE
Cattle fairs like the ones in Clusone and Rovato help informing about migrant sheep farming. On the event of the Rovato fair in 2010, a convention tackling migrant sheep farming and its issues was arranged. Its title was: " Il mondo della pastorizia: le prospettive in previsione della riforma agraria del 2013" – The sheep farming world: prospects waiting for farmers' reforms in 2013.
Some shepherds are committed to promote their perceived image and their job and do so by arranging some shows.
The Associazione dei pastori lombardi – Lombardy Shepherds Association was founded in 2000 by Tino Ziliani. Its aim is to represent sheep farmers by public institutions, to promote typical sheep farming products, such as woolen clothes, salted meat or bergna, castrated sheep's meat (mutton)
MISURE DI SALVAGUARDIA
Consorzio Regionale Parco del Serio has reinforced its collaboration with migrant shepherds. Sheep farmers have been granted the access to the river during hard times when flock are grazing in the valley.
Parco delle Colline in the Brescia area is also experimenting new initiatives, such as opening certain areas for sheep to graze.
Associazione pastori Lombardi is still trying to find a solution to old problems, such as the batida borders which are very dubious and to assure transparency in the assignment of grazing land which is reason of many controversies among sheep farmers. This association does not have the favour of all shepherds. Many sheep farmers believe that in order to safeguard migrant sheep farming in Lombardy economic measures should be set and activated, as well as new regulations and infrastructures. In particular, some issues seem to be hotspots: preservation of transhumance paths, access to rivers and parks, decent alpine huts to lived in.
