@'""+ ...."4@ o l. European-Atlantic sector~'"... ".-'t-La -The Galician m<strong>in</strong>ifuncluslb -Mou:l.ta<strong>in</strong> <strong>grassland</strong>le -The "pasiego" type2. The pyrenean sector28 -SubcarLtabrian part <strong>of</strong> Burgos-K1.v¿Jn:a2b -Ar
THE SYSTEMS OF GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT IN SPAIN 53was f<strong>in</strong>ally conquered), thus enrich<strong>in</strong>g lhe traditionalrange <strong>of</strong> foodstuffs, such as rye, turnips,l<strong>in</strong>seed, acorns and chestnuts.Al lhe end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 18th century, as lhe result <strong>of</strong>Spa<strong>in</strong>'s ties wüh lhe United K<strong>in</strong>gdom and lhegrowth <strong>in</strong> demand from urban centres <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>duslrializedEngland, a new market for lhe exporl <strong>of</strong>meat was crealed. This broughl about <strong>the</strong> specialization<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rubia gallega as beef cattle, whichlater found a new markel <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>duslrial cenlres<strong>of</strong> Spa<strong>in</strong> (Rodríguez el al., 1979).Generally speak<strong>in</strong>g, Friesian cows are found on<strong>the</strong> richer graz<strong>in</strong>g land <strong>of</strong>lhe Atlantic coastal areaswhile lhe rubia gallega breed has spread fur<strong>the</strong>r<strong>in</strong>land. Two importanl varieties <strong>of</strong> this breed havegradually evolved, lhe dairy cattle <strong>of</strong> lhe valleysand lhe mounla<strong>in</strong> beef-cattle. Nowadays, <strong>in</strong> spite<strong>of</strong> lhe small scale <strong>of</strong> farm<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Galicia (96% <strong>of</strong>farms support less than 6 cows) and difficultieswüh feed<strong>in</strong>g because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>tricate syslem <strong>of</strong> verysmall plots, Galicia produces someth<strong>in</strong>g more lhan23% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> calves raised <strong>in</strong> Spa<strong>in</strong>. These are laterfattened <strong>in</strong> arcas situated closer lo lhe ma<strong>in</strong>market<strong>in</strong>g cenlres.Mounta<strong>in</strong> <strong>grassland</strong> (1 b <strong>in</strong> Fig. 3.10). The CantabrianMounta<strong>in</strong>s act as a filter for <strong>the</strong> moisl sea airwith frequent mists on lhe norlh-fac<strong>in</strong>g slopes andto lhe northwest. On lhe leeward side, <strong>the</strong>comb<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> drier descend<strong>in</strong>g currents <strong>of</strong> airand a sou<strong>the</strong>rly orientation is associated wilh achange <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> lype <strong>of</strong> pastures and woodland foundlhere. Meadow-Iands are restricted here lo <strong>the</strong>deeper soils <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> valley bottoms or irrigatedgentle slopes. Look<strong>in</strong>g at <strong>the</strong> map one canappreciale lhe imporlance <strong>of</strong> lhese mounta<strong>in</strong>s and<strong>the</strong>ir role as a screen aga<strong>in</strong>st moisture-carry<strong>in</strong>gw<strong>in</strong>ds.The walershed is complicated especially round<strong>the</strong> Picos de Europa which form a gianl barrier. Inlhe sou<strong>the</strong>rn part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mounta<strong>in</strong>s <strong>the</strong> drylimeslone supports good pastures which, loge<strong>the</strong>rwilh eroded slopes on slate rock mak<strong>in</strong>g plough<strong>in</strong>gdifficult, have facilitated <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>nomadic movements <strong>of</strong> sheep flocks (trashumancia).The basic major routes are shown <strong>in</strong> Fig. 3.10;<strong>the</strong>y are called lhe "Zamorano-leonesa" and <strong>the</strong>"Segoviana" ane.Figure 3.11 shows a lransection from Cabuér-Cantabrian Sea/.//////®./././>O" m150() "~1.~: o.,A/,/ ,",,,, , , , , ," , ,"................ ----....BihcenaB©¡ ~ "INVERNALf,S""- ''''VILLI,GEFig. 3.11. MOUlllaill <strong>grassland</strong>s <strong>in</strong> Cantabda prov<strong>in</strong>ce (from Montserrat and Fillat, 1978).'"~"WN'SUl'NER PASIURE~
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