Genetics, grazing and longevity: a controlled balance
23 February 2026GAEC LAHITAU - ANDOINS (64)
BREEDING IN DETAIL
► 3 associates + 2 collaborating spouses
► 1,280,000 liters of milk delivered to YEO dairy
► UAA: 108 Ha
At GAEC Lahitau, in Andoins, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, performance isn't a marginal issue: it's a major one. On a 108-hectare UAA (including 34 ha of silage maize, 36 ha of grain maize, 15 ha of temporary meadows and the rest of permanent meadows), the team also cultivates 32 hectares of catch crops based on clover, ryegrass and vetch, intended for haying. A well-oiled system, designed to feed a productive herd in a cubicle-lattice building, with zero grazing.
With 3 UTH (Patrice and Pierre BOUSQUÉ, Nicolas BERNATAS), supported by their wives Marie-Hélène Bousqué and Christine Bernatas, the GAEC delivers 1,280,000L of milk to the Yeo dairy. And the results are there: an average of 12,020 kg at 41.9 TB and 33.9 TP, earning the herd 62nd place nationally in the robot ranking published by PLM in April 2025.
Monthly checks at the start of the year confirm stable and impressive production: 38.1 kg/VL in January, 38 in February, 38.9 in March, 40.1 in April and 39.9 in May.
As Nicolas BERNATAS points out, this cruising speed is based on rigorously selected genetics: “We’re looking for performance and profitability, but also free time to improve our quality of life.
So it’s important to have healthy, reliable and efficient cows, especially in a robotic system.
This is where the bulls in the VOLUM segment really come into their own: robustness, foot health, mammary strength and overall functionality. In this way, the herd maximizes the ratio of liters of milk/loglot or robot, making the most of its investments.
On this robotized farm, the priorities are clear: LT (teat length), teat implantation, DPJ (floor to hock distance), VT (milking speed) and ME (legs). The vast majority of animals are genotyped, and the breeders use the AURIVA embryo bank to diversify the lines to be worked on.
Among the stars of the herd, several cows stand out:
► PLATINE B+82 (MAZEROLLES x EDELWEISS), in 3rd lactation: 11,580 kg in 305 days at 48 TB and 39 TP
► SALSIFI B+83 (NEESKENS x JOYSTAR), in 1st lactation: 9,078 kg at 41.8 TB and 31.8 TP
► TEQUILA B+83 (PARELOUP x LOUXOR), in 1st lactation: 8,206 kg in 228 days at 40.8 TB and 32.1 TP
The origins of the adult herd include well-known sires such as PELLEGRINO, JAYVANO RF and GERRY, while heifers from FOLLOW ME, THORPE RF, GIGALINER, UPWARD, SURFER P, PODIUM DEL and SKATER take over with promising profiles.
VOLUM bulls have a special place in this quest for global, sustainable performance. They tick all the boxes of the genetics of the future: health, efficiency, profitability. A coherent choice for demanding breeding.
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