3.1. Portuguese Agro Biodiversity
Despite its small dimensions, Portugal has a huge environmental variability of orography conditions, soils, climate, land structure, social and cultural traditions. Furthermore, Portugal has great biodiversity, particularly regarding officially recognised as autochthonous breeds (15 bovine, 16 ovine, six caprine, three swine, six equine and four chickens’ breeds). These breeds and their exploitation represent an important part of the country’s historical and cultural heritage, contributing to the settlement of population in rural areas and resulting in different manifestations of gastronomy, social and cultural traditions [
22]. Consequently, agriculture and forestry are crucial for sustainable development in the Guarda region in its economic, social, and environmental aspects. According to INE (2009) [
23], the Utilised Agricultural Area (UAA), represents 29.15% of Guarda district territory which corresponds to 161,405 ha, of which, permanent pastures occupy almost 50%. In Guarda district, 65.45% of the UAA (about 2/3 of total) is used for livestock production, highlighting the great importance of this sector and its impact in the economy and the region’s society. The same source also indicates that existed 30,375 bovines in the region, 153,348 sheep, 20,403 goats, 13,759 pigs, 4585 equines, among other farm animals (INE 2009). Several autochthonous breeds originated in this region, namely: the goat’s breed “Cabra Serrana” (“Cabra Jarmelista”, “Cabrito da Beira” (Geographical Protected Indication—GPI)), the sheep breeds “Churra Mondegueira” and “Bordaleira Serra da Estrela” (producers of milk used for one of the most important PDO cheese of the country, “Queijo Serra da Estrela”), “Borrego Serra da Estrela” (PDO), the Serra da Estrela lamb meat, and the bovine breed “Jarmelista”. In the last years, a significant decrease in the number of animals from autochthonous breeds in the livestock production was registered in the region and as stated by other authors, reducing the number of effective from autochthonous breeds would necessarily result in the desertification, with an emergency of actions in order to add value to this sector and products [
22].
Globally, in animal production, meat still occupies a place of crucial importance, and traditionally, beef is the most relevant in the market. In 2013, Portugal had the 14th largest cattle herd in the EU, with approximately 1,471,000 heads which remained constant over the years, contrary to other kinds of livestock for which the trend was negative [
10,
24,
25]
The bovine production in Portugal has traditionally been carried out on farms specialised in the farming or rearing and fattening [
26]. In 2018, beef production represented about 20% of the total volume of meat produced in Portugal, and the certified meat (PDO and Protected Geographical Indication-PGI) represented only a 2.6% of the total beef production [
27]. With the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) crisis in the late 1990s and early 2000s, beef consumption declined. However, according to Ralo [
28], the BSE crisis brought autochthonous breeds back into line due to their resilience to disease and consumers’ confidence. Climate aggression gives these breeds so-called rusticity and significant competition power [
29]. According to GPP (2017) [
30], beef consumption in Portugal has been decreasing since 2008. In that same year, beef consumption was 19.6 kg/hab.; in 2013, consumption decreased to 16.9 kg/hab. INE [
23].
In terms of value, domestic consumption of beef in Portugal remained stable in 2008 and 2009 representing 207 thousand tons, decreasing in the following years by approximately 15% between 2009 and 2013 [
23]. The production of beef in Portugal is not enough for domestic demand, and this situation has been worsening in recent years, according to [
27]. From 2009 until 2012, the degree of self-supply only covered 52% of consumption needs. This situation leads the country to a noticeable dependence on this product, placing Portugal in a very vulnerable situation to price fluctuations in the international market.
Santos [
31] concluded that meats are substitute goods for each other, which means that when the price of one meat increases, others’ demand also increases. Therefore, the consumption of meat in the market at the best price increases, regardless of being a national or imported product. Considering the national meat market price, Portugal may find it challenging to compete in an undifferentiated market, where low price strategies predominate. In a context of increasing trade globalisation, where Portugal competes in the national market with European Union partners and, with large world exporters, there are several difficulties in lowering prices due to the reduced margin concerning production costs. This may have adverse consequences for Portuguese animal production.
In 2006 a study was developed to characterise morphologically Jarmelista breed. 185 morphological characters were used for females and 170 characters for males using data analysis/numerical taxonomy methods. Simultaneously, with the collection and recording of morphological data, blood, hair, and semen for DNA analysis, as well as the images of all animals identified as Jarmelista, this breed was compared with other autochthonous bovine breeds of Portugal. Moreover, the study revealed that Jarmelista constitutes a distinct group and independent of all the already recognised autochthonous breeds [
32]. Hence, this breed was recognised as a native breed since 27 of October of 2007, with an initial number of 34 registered animals. Its genealogical book has been taken over by Acriguarda, the breeders association.
As previously mentioned, Jarmelista farms are found in a characteristic mountain region with climatic conditions registering high thermal amplitudes, which have strong implications on pasture development and animal’s growth. The low number of animals per holding characterises the breeding regimen of these animals. Jarmelista breed is characterised by the animals’ rusticity, perfectly adapted to the severe climatic conditions of the region; compared to other animals raised in the region this breed demonstrates greater strength and robustness [
22]. Furthermore, animals are fed with natural pastures, oats, rye (straw and grain), herb fodder and hay, being consequently produced in a sustainable and organic regimen.
3.2. Characterisation of the Territory
Guarda district is crossed by a vast mountain range called Central System that incorporates about 85% of Serra da Estrela’s total surface in Portugal. This region presents a sharp relief, from 84 m in Vila Nova de Foz Côa to 1993 m in Serra da Estrela [
33]. Guarda county is the coldest region, and the low temperatures registered on winter affect pastures development dramatically [
22]. On average, temperatures from December to February in Guarda are below 5 °C, which hinder vegetation growth. Furthermore, below 10 °C grass growth is low, and only after April the temperatures rise above 10 °C. Legumes need higher temperatures than grasses to grow because higher temperatures lead to increased photosynthesis. The ideal temperatures for pastures based on grasses to grow lie between 20 and 25 °C [
34].
Besides, the rainfall in Guarda is irregular, with an annual average of 914 mm [
35] and follows the Mediterranean climate’s characteristic distribution, with a dry summer and a wet winter [
34]. The lack of water is another main restriction on pasture production, leading to a lack of production from June to September [
36] and the hydric deficit also affects the nutritional value of vegetation [
37]. The low thickness of the soil results in low water retention capacity, worsening the effect of rainfall seasonality. On the other hand, soil’s soaking tendency compromises the development of some species and the management of bovines. The soils of Guarda region generally have a granitic origin, coarse texture, and acid pH, which constitutes one of the main limiting factors in the development of altitude pastures, high potassium levels and low to medium levels phosphorus and organic matter. Except for sludge, the soil’s thickness is significantly reduced, which combined with a low herbaceous cover, coarse texture, rugged relief, and nature of rocky materials, lead to drainage problems in some cases and high susceptibility to erosion in others [
35].
The soil and climatic characteristics of a mountainous region with skeletal soils submitted to erosion, and labour shortage, led to a larger and predominant number of extensive livestock farms with a low number of animals. Highland pastures, which are fundamental for this region’s economic sustainability and for these animals, consist essentially of the traditional “lameiros”. Lameiros are natural pastures found in altitude lands that grow without the interference of man. They are preferably located near waterways or naturally moist areas, benefiting from irrigation in whole or in part, thus occupying the best soils [
34]. Some pastures are sown and improved with herbaceous species adapted to the region’s edaphic conditions, rye, and oat cereal pastures. Lameiros are permanent natural pastures dominated by nearly perennial grassy natural plants, some of which are very fibrous. Improvement of mountain pastures in quantity and quality involves sowing improved pulses and grass species and fertilising them. Increasing the productivity of these ecosystems, which are fundamental for the protection of soil and water, will increase the income level of the populations, an essential condition for their settlement in the region combating human desertification [
35].
3.3. Characterisation of the Production System
The set of data obtained through the questionnaire gathered information from 20 producers of the Jarmelista breed in which 14 breeders were from Guarda Municipality (from the parishes of Guarda: 10%; S. Pedro do Jarmelo 20%; and Miguel do Jarmelo: 10%), three of the Municipality of Pinhel, one of the Municipality of Belmonte, one of the Municipality of Seia and 1 of the Municipality of Almeida (
Figure 1).
The majority of the farms are from small dimension. The farms of the 20 producers could be divided in three classes. Four farms have more than 60 ha of total area, and four others have areas between 30 and 60 ha, while the remaining 12 have areas of less than 30 ha.
Figure 2 presents the three classes of farms according to their total areas, utilised agricultural area (UAAs), pastures area and area of crops dedicated to cultures used for animal feed. As can be seen, pastures represent more than 50% of the farm areas in all cases. Furthermore, 95% of the breeders have less than 10 hectares of annual crops for livestock feed.
Regarding the feed system (
Table 1), most of the farmers raised their animals without commercial feeds or other types of processed foods. However, it can be pointed out that two producers only use commercial feed. These two producers had 10 and 11 Jarmelista cows, respectively, and seven and eight Jarmelista calves with ages ranging from 6 to 24 months.
By crossing the information regarding the age of the animals and their type of feed, it was found that, except for those two producers, the introduction of commercial feed, when it occurs, is only after the weaning or in adulthood. After weaning and until slaughter, 45% of the farmers inquired opted for a feeding regime composed of grazing, hay, and straw. It was also noticed that, of the different feeding options available (grazing, hay, straw, feed, oat fodder, rye fodder and herb fodder), 85% use grazing; 75% use hay; 70% use straw; 40% use feed; 10% use oats and rye forage; and 5% herb fodder, as noted in
Table 1.
As previously pointed, altitude pastures are subjected to specific limitations, namely their climate and topography. The availability and quality of pasture are not constant throughout the year, so it is not always sufficient to cover animals’ needs throughout their growth cycle. Low temperatures and the lack of water, are the main limitations for pasture development. During this period, supplements such as hay and straw are provided. A correct and balanced diet is one of the most critical factors in cattle production and, therefore, pasture management, by allowing control over the quantity and quality of available grass, becomes crucial for the nutritive value of the grass, which in turn determines the animal diet.
The maintenance of this autochthonous breed in the region can have a significant contribution to sustainability either directly or indirectly. The maintenance of altitude pastures and associated agricultural practices contributes to avoid the abandonment of these areas and prevents the excessive accumulation of biomass, reducing therefore the potential impacts of forest fires. Besides, the maintenance of these pastures avoids the expansion of land areas dedicated to the production of Eucaliptus globulus which has been a matter of continuous controversy in Portugal due to its negative impact over native species. Therefore, extensive cattle grazing in the region has a positive impact on the environment and, simultaneously, can contribute to reduce the country’s dependence on external meat markets. Exotic breeds are not well adapted to the harsh weather conditions of the region and require improved quality feed, namely the use of commercial feeds.
With the surveys, we were also able to evaluate some zootechnic parameters which are presented in
Table 2. Farmers scarcely fatten the cattle, for more than 18 months, not only to avoid the competition for food but also due to the need for extra housing for the younger animals, which can be a problem for some producers due to the small areas of the farm.
Regarding the reproductive management of the animals, it was possible to observe that, on average, the animals had the 1st delivery at the age of ca. 38 months. The youngest animal to have at the first delivery had 25 months and the oldest around 70 months.
In
Table 2 we can, also, see that the mean interval between deliveries is 440 days. The average fertility rate registered was 84%. Cows have an average age between 6 and 7 years.
Overall, Jarmelista animals represent ca. 27% of the flock owned by these farmers. Considering just the Jarmelista flock, cows represent 54.2%, while bulls represent 3.4%. Male Jarmelista calves from 6 to 24 months represent 20.2%, while female calves within the same age group represent 18.5%. The remaining animals correspond to female calves within the age group 6–12 months (2.4%) and male calves of the same age group (1.4%).
Concerning the total flock owed by the 20 farmers, 161 Jarmelista cows correspond to one-third of the cows in production. Jarmelista bulls correspond to 35.7% of the existing bulls. Jarmelista female calves with 6–24 months correspond to 42.6% of the female calves with the same age, while Jarmelista male calves correspond to 46.5% of total calves of the same age class. Jarmelista female and male calves with 6–12 months correspond to 58.3 and 57.2% of calves’ total population with 6–12 months.
From the total number of animals sold by the farmers in 2016 (246), ca. 37% corresponded to the Jarmelista breed (91). Of the 157 live animals sold to other producers in 2016, 25.5% were Jarmelista, corresponding to a sales volume of around €24,000. Besides, it was possible to observe that the sale price of Jarmelista animals was identical to the other breeds. Of the 89 animals sold for slaughter, 57.3% were Jarmelista corresponding to a sales volume of € 30,600, being the price identical to the other animals sold for slaughter. Thus, Jarmelista animals either sold to other producers or for slaughter, were valued equally and at the same price of other breeds.
In terms of this breed’s economic profitability, it is observed that the production of Jarmelo cattle is not significant in the overall income of farmers due to the lack of valorisation of its contribution to biological and sustainable farming. Furthermore, this lack of valorisation also results from the fact that this breed is not recognised as differentiated in the market. For most farms, Jarmelista breed represents just a complement to the exploitation mainly because of cultural reasons, history, and animals’ beauty. Due to the slower development of this breed, exotic breeds or crusades are preferred.
In
Figure 3, we can observe the weight of Jarmelista cattle’s sale in farm income (sales of Jarmelista animals/total sales of animals), noting that there are farms (6 breeders, i.e., 30% of respondents) to whom this breed corresponds to the entire business. In comparison, others have not made any sale of animals (three) or have not sold Jarmelista animals (two) during the inquiry year. For seven farmers, the proportion of Jarmelista cattle sales in the total farm income represented from 5 to 30%, while for two producers it represented ca. 75%.
In what concerns the meat production performance of the Jarmelista breed, available data related to the carcass conformation of animals slaughtered between 2001 and 2018 is presented in
Table 3. The data corresponds to a total of 338 Jarmelista carcasses of different age classes. Conformation (the shape and development of the carcass) is denoted by E, U, R, O, P, with E being the best and P the poorest. The majority of the carcasses (295) were graded as R or O. Letter R corresponds to a well-developed round and shoulder with thick back. Letter O corresponds to average round, slightly lacking thickness on a marginally flat back.
Lower grades are a common feature of autochthonous breeds due to their slower growth rates, often associated with less intensive feeding. Conversely, exotic breeds have better feed conversion ratios and are mostly graded as E or U. Hence, with comparable prices for the meat, the tendency is for the reduction of the Jarmelista flock as a result of its lower profitability.
Figure 4 presents average carcass weights and the respective standard deviations of animals of different class ages. Classes 5 and 6 correspond to animals at the end of their production cycles or to animals with low reproductive performances, which were sent for slaughter. Comparing the carcass weights of groups 1–4, one can conclude about the slow growth rate of Jarmelista cattle compared to exotic breeds or even to other European autochthonous breeds within the same age classes [
38]. Average weights of animals of the age class 4 (25–36 M) represent around 70% more as compared to the weights of animals in class age 1 (<12 M). This is also one reason why farmers opt to sell animals with less than 18 months (ca. 77% of age classes 1–4).
Polack and co-workers [
39] used a multidimensional approach to evaluate the risk status of several Polish farm animal breeds. They proposed a model based on two main factors: number of females (L) and effective population size (Ne); as well as and an additional factor (D) composed of six sub-factors: (1) geographical concentration in the country; (2) demographic trend over the last 5 years; (3) cultural value; (4) parentage control; (5) ex situ conservation; (6) anthropogenic factors (breeders’ organizations, financial support, activity, and age of breeders). The risk status was calculated based on the following equation:
where:
X—risk status; L—total number of females; Ne—effective population size; D—sum of additional sub-factors.
The final score was proposed as follows: ≤1—critical status; >1 and ≤2—an endangered breed requiring action; >2 and <3—an endangered breed requiring monitoring; ≥3—not at risk. Measurable factors (L and Ne) were defined according to the degree of endangerment as: critical status, endangered breed in need of conservation, endangered breed in need of monitoring, and non-endangered breed, scored as 0, 1, 2 or 3 points, respectively. Components of additional factor 3 (from D1 to D6), were scored as 1, 0.5 or 0. As the assessment of these components was subjective, this factor was weighted as 1/2 to reduce its effect on the result, and to decrease the estimation error.
By applying the abovementioned equation, the data collected by us regarding the Jarmelista breed produced a value of 1.08. Thus, although not being considered as critically endangered by using this approach, we can consider that urgent actions are required to avoid its extinction.