To graze the
meadows the farm owns a flock of the rare sheep breed
"xaldas" and belongs to "ACOXA" the association responsible
for preserving the race. The Xalda sheep (of Celtic
origin) are the true indigenous sheep of Asturias. They
came to the verge of extinction in the 1980's due to
the introduction of new races more suitable to intensive
stockbreeding. The Xaldas are a smaller rustic sheep
more adapted to extensive grazing. The farm lambs are
used in the Hotel restaurant and sold to specialist
restaurants as "organic Xaldo lamb". The meat is fibrous
but tender with less fat and slightly stronger in
flavour.
(More information www.xalda.com)
In March 2004 we
acquired 2 Asturcon ponies, this is the indigenous
race of Asturias. On our farm the ponies help
create a mixed grazing system, more in keeping with
the principals of organic farming. We therefore avoid
grazing exclusively with sheep, which we had been
doing for the previous 8 years. There
are also chickens roaming in the meadows some of which
are also the Asturian breed known as "Pita
Pinta".
There is also a
vegetable garden to help supply the hotel with fresh
organic vegetables. Many local varieties are grown and
we produce are own seed to help maintain these
varieties
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