La Gasconne gains speed thanks to AI: a winning strategy at EARL CROUZAT

At Montans and Rabastens, in the Tarn region (81), Damien Crouzat now raises a herd of 30 Pyrenean Gascony dams in a system based on grass-fed production and direct sales, with a strong conviction: the use of AI as an essential lever for the genetic improvement of his herd.

A change of course ... and breed

Having taken over the family business in 2012, Damien initially took over the dairy herd of around forty Holsteins. But the milk crisis in the following years led him to review the family business. In 2015, he began the process of converting the farm to suckling cattle, with a strong choice: the Gasconne des Pyrénées breed, for its hardiness, its ability to make the most of forage resources … and for his love of the breed, quite simply.

Over the years, Damien has gradually built up his herd: the first crosses with suckling cattle on the dairy cows, with the choice of INRA95 for the direct sale of calves, and then the purchase of the first Gascon heifers. In 2017, the last dairy cows left the farm for the first Gascon calvings in 2018. Today, the herd counts 30 mothers, with a clear long-term objective: to reach 35 to 40 calvings a year to make the most of the 70ha of grassland.

Simplicity and autonomy at the heart of the system

The forage system is based on hay in winter and grazing the rest of the year. Damien relies on the Gascon group to train him in dynamic rotational grazing and optimize his grass management, a key lever in his operation.

Calving and fattening cows are supplemented with a 100% farm-produced meal mix: cereals (barley or triticale) and faba beans. The farm is organized around two sites 18 km apart: the old dairy building houses the heifers and fattening animals, while the new site houses the mothers and will gradually bring all the animals together, to limit travel and make work easier.

Short distribution channels... and Label Rouge

Damien sells his animals mainly direct, in the form of farm packages or deliveries. Every year, he reserves a dozen calves aged 7.5 to 9 months (180 to 220 kg carcass), 3-4 calves and cull cows for this outlet. The Gascon group is revitalizing Label Rouge Bœuf Gascon, and with the syndicat des éleveurs Gascon du Tarn, of which Damien is vice-president, the Puylaurens abattoir has been rehabilitated to produce this Label Rouge beef. The breeder reserves 5 castrated males each year for this purpose. He also sells a few female breeders, selects one or two males for breeding or the station, and keeps the bulk for renewal, with a view to increasing the number of animals.

Rigorous breeding... supported by AI

On the breeding side, EARL Crouzat has always used AI, with 40-50% of animals inseminated each year. Passionate about genetics, Damien now makes his own mating schedules, relying on his in-depth knowledge of bulls. His recent favorites include : BANCO, ESSENTIEL, LOUBENS, OCCITAN, PASTOU…

"I'm fully satisfied with AI, as it gives me access to bulls of considerable genetic quality, as well as bringing genetic diversity to my herd. AI allows me to make corrections on an individual scale, which natural breeding bulls don't allow. I love choosing the perfect bull for my cow!

Damien CROUZAT

While he previously used three calving periods, since 2024 he has chosen to group calvings in the spring to lighten his workload and align his system with grazing: ” If possible, I’d like to increase my AI rate. With my change of strategy and the grouping of my calvings, it will be easier to implement “, explains Damien.

He distinguishes two batches to manage the MH gene, crossing carriers and non-carriers to avoid any problems. His LPI is 377 days, compared with 401 days for the breed average.

The axes of selection are clear: muscular development, skeletal development, and milk production, with constant attention to docility. ” An agitated cow makes the whole batch move: I prefer to cull. The result: a calm, easy-to-handle, high-performance herd.

Damien takes an active part in sorting committees at the station, and is involved in the local Gasconne dynamic. In April 2025, he trained his first animals for a Comice in Réalmont – an experience that left a lasting impression on him, and perhaps a gateway to future competitions.

With AI, the potential of the Gasconne is even greater

Damien’s experience perfectly illustrates the value of AI in modern suckler breeding: a reliable, accessible and strategic tool for rapid progress while remaining consistent with an autonomous, grass-based system. By enabling him to choose precisely the right bulls for each female, introduce genetic diversity and manage his MH lines, AI has become a real performance driver for his herd of Gasconne cows. In a context where genetic selection is more than ever a technical and economic lever, the breeder from the Tarn region demonstrates that innovation and hardiness go hand in hand.