Conservatoire des Races d'Aquitaine

What Conservatoire des Races d'Aquitaine does

The Conservatoire des Races d'Aquitaine is a French nonprofit association (loi 1901) founded in 1991, headquartered in Gradignan within the Bordeaux Sciences Agro campus, with a registered office in Mérignac. It operates genetic conservation programs for 21 threatened native livestock breeds of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, spanning cattle (Bazadaise, Béarnaise, Bordelaise, Marine, Betizu), equines (Poney Landais, Pottok, Âne des Pyrénées), sheep (Mouton Landais, Sasi Ardia), goats (Chèvre des Pyrénées), pigs (Porc Basque, Porc Gascon), poultry (Poule Landaise, Poule Gasconne, Dindon Gascon, Canard Criard-Kriaxera), rabbits (Lapin Chèvre), and bees (Abeille Noire du Pays Basque, Abeille Noire des Landes de Gascogne). Its core work involves maintaining herd books, genetic diversity monitoring, breeding planning, and coordinating a network of 60+ partner farms across departments 16, 17, 24, 32, 33, 40, 47, 56, and 64.

The organization derives revenue from a mix of public subsidies (Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, departmental councils of Gironde, Landes, and Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Natura 2000/EU, Agence de l'eau Adour-Garonne, FranceAgrimer), corporate mécénat (Crédit Agricole, CEVA Santé Animale, Delachaux et Niestlé), foundation grants (Fondation du Patrimoine, Fondation Nature et Découvertes), membership adhesions, tax-deductible donations processed through HelloAsso, animal placement fees, and boutique sales of publications such as 'Races en Héritage'. Its primary customers are partner farms raising conserved breeds, natural reserve and land managers (Natura 2000 sites, Réserves Naturelles Nationales, municipalities) using ecopastoralism services, and the broader public donating to conservation. It runs a nine-employee operation supplemented by a dense partnership ecosystem of 21 regional conservatories, 45+ breed associations, and 9 technical/scientific institutes including INRAE, IFIP, and Institut de l'élevage.

Operationally, the Conservatoire is best characterized as a regional coordination platform that converts public and private funding into two on-the-ground outputs: breed population management (herd books, breeding placements, co-ownership of genetic stocks with SEPANSO) and ecological grazing services (delivery of 209 hectares of wetland management annually under Natura 2000, a 400-animal sylvopastoralism herd in the Médoc, and grazing at sites including the Marais de Bruges, Étang de Cousseau, and Bordeaux Métropole's Artigues cemetery park). The organization's strategic value lies in being the only actor combining regional breed conservation with operational delivery of measurable ecological outcomes, though it remains tightly scoped to southwestern France.

Name

Conservatoire des Races d'Aquitaine

Legal name

Conservatoire des Races d'Aquitaine

Website

https://racesaquitaine.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Conservatoire des Races d'Aquitaine is a French nonprofit association founded in 1991 that conserves 21 threatened native livestock breeds in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, delivering herd-book management, partner-farm coordination, and ecopastoralism services to public land managers, partner breeders, and member supporters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Livestock Heritage Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Animal Production (1152)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFACAJAL

Livestock & Herd/Flock Operations Management Advisory (Nutrition, Housing, Performance)

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Services (Custom Farming, Agronomy, Veterinary)/Farm Management & Operational Advisory Services

SECONDARYAFACADAJ

Regulatory, Certification & Compliance Veterinary Services (Health Papers, QA Programs)

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Services (Custom Farming, Agronomy, Veterinary)/Veterinary Services (Farm Animal & Herd Health)

SECONDARYAFAEALAM

Livestock Showing, Training & Performance Support Services (Non-veterinary)

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Animal Welfare, Boarding & Production Support Services (non-veterinary)

Keywords

• Livestock breed conservation
• Heritage breed preservation
• Ecopastoralism services
• Genetic resource management
• Animal breeding programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mérignac

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and charitable contributions: The Conservatoire accepts donations from the public, including tax-deductible donations (dons déductibles des impôts) and legacies (legs), as a primary source of funding for its conservation mission.
2. Membership subscriptions: The Conservatoire generates revenue through annual membership fees (adhésion) from supporters and member farms.
3. Animal placement and sales: The Conservatoire places animals from its conservation programs with farms and individuals, including breeding stock sales and placements of threatened breeds for ecosystem management purposes.
4. Government and EU subsidies: The Conservatoire receives financing from regional, departmental, and European Union sources including Natura 2000 contracts, the Agence de l'eau Adour-Garonne, the Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and departmental councils.
5. Book and publication sales: The Conservatoire operates a boutique selling publications such as 'Races en Héritage' book.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Conservatoire des Races d'Aquitaine operates breeding and genetic conservation programs for 21 threatened regional livestock breeds native to the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, including cattle (Bazadaise, Béarnaise, Bordelaise, Marine, Betizu), equines (Poney Landais, Pottok, Âne des Pyrénées), sheep (Mouton Landais, Sasi Ardia), goats (Chèvre des Pyrénées), pigs (Porc Basque, Porc Gascon), poultry (Poule Landaise, Poule Gasconne, Dindon Gascon, Canard Criard-Kriaxera), bees (Abeille Noire du Pays Basque, Abeille Noire des Landes de Gascogne), and rabbits (Lapin Chèvre). It manages herd books, coordinates a 60+ partner farm network, and delivers écopastoralisme (ecological grazing) services to natural reserves, Natura 2000 sites, and municipalities for habitat management. The organization funds its mission through public subsidies, donations, memberships, and publication sales.

Product overview

Conservatoire des Races d'Aquitaine operates as a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, conservation, and valorization of heritage livestock breeds native to the Aquitaine/Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. The organization manages a network of regional conservatories, partner associations, and registered farms to protect endangered animal breeds including cattle (Bazadaise, Béarnaise, Bordelaise, Marine, Betizu), horses and ponies (Poney Landais, Pottok), sheep (Mouton Landais, Sasi Ardia), goats (Chèvre des Pyrénées), pigs (Porc Basque, Porc Gascon), poultry (Poule Landaise, Poule Gasconne, Dindon Gascon), rabbits (Lapin Chèvre), and bees (Abeille Noire du Pays Basque, Abeille Noire des Landes de Gascogne). The organization offers ecopastoralism services for land management, operates the Réseau Marine for Marine cattle conservation, provides educational resources and farm directory services, and facilitates breed adoption through partner farms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Réseau Marine: A network formed in January 2019, constituted of members acting in favor of the preservation of the Marine Landaise cattle breed. Members provide technical, financial, or scientific support for the conservation of the breed's genetic and cultural heritage.

Products and services

• Race Conservation Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 209 hectares of wetlands maintained annually through ecopastoralism over 4 years (2019-2022) under Natura 2000 contract
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• SEPANSO (Société pour l'Etude, la Protection et l'Aménagement de la Nature dans le Sud-Ouest)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEPANSO is the Conservatoire's key partner for the Marine Landaise cattle conservation. They are co-owners of all Marine breed individuals and provide habitat through Réserves Naturelles Nationales of Bruges and Cousseau. They co-manage the breed's herd book, genetic diversity monitoring, breeding programs, animal placement, and male rotation.
• SIAEBVELG (Syndicat mixte d'aménagement des étangs du littoral girondin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIAEBVELG partners with the Conservatoire for écopastoralisme operations on the Médoc lakes basin, managing wetland grazing for biodiversity maintenance under Natura 2000 frameworks.
• Fédération Races de NormandieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the regional conservatories within the Conservatoire's partner network, representing the Normandy region breed conservation federation.
• URGC (Union pour les Ressources Génétiques du Centre-Val de Loire)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner within the network of conservatories, focusing on genetic resources conservation in the Centre-Val de Loire region.
• Fédération de Races de BretagneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional breed federation partner in Brittany, part of the broader conservatory network across France.
• CRAPAL (Conservatoire des Races Animales en Pays de Loire)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional animal breed conservatory for the Pays de la Loire region, partner in the national conservatory network.
• CREGENE (Conservatoire des Ressources Génétiques Centre Ouest Atlantique)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenetic resources conservatory for the Centre-West Atlantic region, partner in breed conservation coordination.
• Centre Régional de Ressources Génétiques Nord-Pas de CalaisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional genetic resources center for the Nord-Pas de Calais region, part of the national conservatory network.
• Bordeaux Sciences AgrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for the Conservatoire's secretariat. Provides physical office space and institutional support within the Bordeaux agronomy campus. Located at 1 cours du Général de Gaulle, Gradignan.
• Natura 2000majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean ecological network providing funding framework for écopastoralisme activities. The Conservatoire has held Natura 2000 contracts (2019-2022) financing wetland management across 209 hectares in the Médoc lakes basin, with a new contract 2024-2027.
• Euskal Herriko Laborantza GanbaramajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBasque agricultural chamber working with the Conservatoire on Betizu management in the Mondarrain massif and broader Basque breed conservation.
• Association de l'Abeille Noire des LandescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation dedicated to the conservation of the Abeille Noire des Landes de Gascogne. Partners with the Conservatoire on the conservatory zone at Biscarrosse and genetic conservation programs.
• Euskal Herriko Erle Beltza (Association for the Basque Black Bee)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation working for the conservation of the Basque Black Bee ecotype. Co-manages a conservatory apiary with the Conservatoire at Itxassou and conducts swarm capture and training programs.
• Association Sasi ArtaldeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation involved in the conservation of the Mouton Sasi Ardia breed.
• Association Nationale du Poney LandaisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association for the Poney Landais breed, working on breed standards, conservation, and promotion.
• Association Nationale de Sauvegarde du Porc GasconminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association dedicated to the conservation and promotion of the Porc Gascon breed.
• Filiere du Porc BasqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganized supply chain for Basque pork products, linking breed conservation with market development.
• Excellence BazadaiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization promoting the Bazadaise cattle breed, supporting breed conservation through market development.
• Office National des Forêts (ONF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench national forests office. Partners with the Conservatoire on sylvopastoralism in Médoc forests and conservatory zone management for the Abeille Noire at Biscarrosse.
• FedCAN (Fédération pour la Conservation de l'Abeille Noire)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational federation for Black Bee conservation. Established the charter defining conservation zone requirements (3 km core zone + 7 km buffer).
• Mairie d'AvensanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality of Avensan requested ecopastoralism management of Brédéra wetlands. Provides land and co-funds animal management infrastructure (fencing, corrals) for Marine cattle grazing.
• Commune of SoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwner of the Plata marsh (Marais du Plata) site in Landes. Entered a Natura 2000 contract with the Conservatoire for seasonal pony grazing of peat bogland.
• Bordeaux MétropolemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolitan authority owning the Parc cimetière d'Artigues. Signed a convention with the Conservatoire for year-round ecological grazing by Poney Landais and Vache Bordelaise on 20 hectares of meadows.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Livestock Conservancy: US nonprofit focused on conserving heritage breeds through breed registration, genetic diversity monitoring, and breeder network support. Closest US functional equivalent at larger scale.
• CREGENE (Conservatoire des Ressources Génétiques Centre Ouest Atlantique): Genetic resources conservatory for the Centre-Ouest Atlantic region of France, partner in the same national network of regional conservatories conducting breed conservation and genetic resource stewardship.
• Rare Breeds Survival Trust: UK charity dedicated to the conservation of native livestock breeds. Performs the closest international equivalent function (breed watchlist, herd books, partner breeders, conservation advocacy) and represents a comparable scale and model.
• Fédération Races de Normandie: Regional breed conservatory for Normandy operating the same nonprofit model of livestock breed conservation, herd book management, and partner farm coordination in a different French region. Most structurally comparable peer.
• Fédération de Races de Bretagne: Breed federation for Brittany, partner in the same national conservatory network performing regional breed preservation with herd book and partner farm activities.
• Centre Régional de Ressources Génétiques Nord-Pas de Calais: Regional genetic resources center for Nord-Pas de Calais, performing the same conservation and partner coordination function in northern France.
• CRAPAL (Conservatoire des Races Animales en Pays de Loire): Pays de la Loire regional conservatory for animal breeds, explicitly listed as a partner conservatory within the same national network. Performs the same function (breed conservation, herd books, partner farms) in a different region.
• URGC (Union pour les Ressources Génétiques du Centre-Val de Loire): Regional genetic resources organization in Centre-Val de Loire focused on plant and animal heritage conservation. Functions as a sibling regional conservatory within the same national network.

Others

• SEPANSO (Société pour l'Étude, la Protection et l'Aménagement de la Nature dans le Sud-Ouest): Southwest France environmental protection society and core partner that co-owns Marine Landaise cattle genetic stock and co-manages the Réseau Marine. Not a breed-conservation peer but a tightly intertwined regional conservation collaborator.
• FranceAgriMer: French national agricultural and seafood establishment agency providing funding and operational support for breed conservation programs. Acts as a financial/regulatory stakeholder rather than a peer organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Conservatoire-des-Races-dAquitaine-132342756821650
• Instagraminstagram.com/conservatoireracesaquitaine/?hl=fr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conservatoire-des-races-d-aquitaine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Conservatoire des Races d'Aquitaine