O.S. GEODE is an organisation approved by the Ministry of Agriculture to oversee the breeding selection and multiplying programmes, and the flock book record keeping of  the following breeds:

BERRICHON DU CHER  -  ROUGE DE L’OUEST -  SUFFOLK  -  HAMPSHIRE  -  DORSET DOWN -  CHARMOISE  -  CLUN FOREST -  BERRICHON DE L’INDRE -  EST A LAINE MERINOS -  SOLOGNOT  -  FINN – ROMANOV

The ROMANE breed is part of GEODE for the commercialization of its 18,000 ewes across France but the breeding schema is overseen by the ROMANE sheep breeding society.

Taking into account the multiplicity of zootechnical traits implicit in meat production from pure bred sheep and the breeding management methods practiced by farmers, a strong selection can only be achieved by the development of a well-integrated programme.

The genetic improvement programme necessitates:

- The use of natural service as well as Artificial Insemination
- The application of the most modern genetic evaluation
- The implementation of a system of qualifying animals for the flock book

This programme has gradually been set up in France from the 1980s onwards. Starting with a selected base of ewes in the different breeds, it uses, in a complementary and coherent way, all the selection strategies available ( parentage, individual evaluation, progeny, AI and natural reproduction..)  

The aim is to impartially promote the best progenitors of every generation, then to organize their diffusion and use.

The objective of the programme is to improve the potential of the breed with regards to both maternal and meat qualities.

It has the official national approval of the Ministry of Agriculture for the commercialisation of breeding stock of the following:  BERRICHON DU CHER  - ROUGE DE L’OUEST  -  SUFFOLK  -  HAMPSHIRE  -  DORSET DOWN  -  CHARMOISE  - CLUN FOREST  -  BERRICHON DE L’INDRE -  EST A LAINE MERINOS -  SOLOGNOT  -  FINN – ROMANOV

Our sheep breeders are spread across many regions of France, which allows us to meet demands rapidly. Our ram evaluation and holding centres  play an important role in the exchange and diffusion of our best genetics from the top of the pyramid of the breeding programme schema as approved by the French Ministry of Agriculture.