Nearly 450 sheep and goats spend the winter in the vineyards of the Agde plain

Sheep in the rows of vines, goats in the borders, where they clean the brambles. MIDI LIBRE – OLIVIER RAYNAUD

Des sols “rasés” de près par des moutons avides de plantes vertes et grasses. MIDI LIBRE – OLIVIER RAYNAUD

Le domaine de l’Octroi accueille cet hiver encore le troupeau de Béranger Miras.

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In recent weeks, on the road between Agde and Marseillan, their presence in the vineyards had undoubtedly attracted your attention. Upon inquiry, this flock of 300 sheep, escorted by 150 goats, has taken up its winter quarters on the lands of the Domaine de l’Octroi, owned by the Delort family. “This is already the third year that we have tested the system”, explains Mathieu, one of the two brothers at the head of the farm.

Reduced use of weedkiller and fertilizer

A shepherd in Caux, Béranger Miras has therefore installed his animals from November to February (or even a little longer) in the vineyards of the estate, where the sheep find abundant rich grass, in this Agde plain full of humidity. “They are very useful to us in return because they eat horsetail, a weed that is found in large quantities in our vineyards located on the plains and which remains difficult to combat. The sheep love it!” , appreciates the winegrower, who sees the use of weedkillers reduced over the years, as well as that of fertilizers. “The droppings of the sheep and goats gradually improve the soil. In a few years we will measure the real benefit of the presence of the herd.”
And what about the work of the goats! Never the last to climb the shrubs that surround the vines, they carry out a colossal cleaning work. Like on this land located on the Florensac road, “where we could no longer set foot” , admits Mathieu Delort. “They attacked the brambles, the shrubs and we can already see more clearly. In the long term, this will also allow us to find old ditches and maintain them again, particularly for irrigation.”
During our visit to the vineyards, we met Pierre Pourthié, owner of the estate of the same name, who also admits that the passage of sheep in one of his vineyards had borne fruit in combating horsetail. As such, what could have seemed far-fetched a few years ago could well be the norm in the not-so-distant future.