Presentation

1960/1962 : Establishment of the Experimental Unit

The first contacts between INRA and the Army Technical Services (ETBS: Établissements d’Expériences Techniques de Bourges), owners and operators of the 12,000-hectare army test site, were initiated through visits by various INRA officials, including Jacques Poly, Raymond Février, Bertrand-Roger Lévy, and numerous genetics researchers.

Established in 1962 on military land, the Bourges Experimental Domain gradually expanded to include four experimental farms across two sites: Osmoy (Domaine de la Sapinière) and Avord (Domaine de Galle).
Research on sheep was conducted at La Sapinière, with early work focused primarily on increasing lambing rates—i.e., the number of lambs born and raised per litter. Over time, research broadened to include genetics related to growth, meat quality, feed efficiency, and disease resistance.

The other three livestock farms (pigs, goats, and cattle) were located at Galle. Early cattle research centered on meat production and maternal trait evaluation, breed comparisons, and later the genetic determinism of muscle growth and its link to meat quality.

1964/1965 : Beginning of Experimental Activities

• Domaine de la Sapinière: Pierre Cattin-Vidal, head of the Unit’s equipment recording department, was succeeded by Maurice Molenat. Pierre Vieillard, a former INRA employee and president of SICAVYL, provided guidance on estate management.
• Domaine de Galle: A development plan for the pig and goat facilities was drawn up, and an equipment shed was constructed.

1965 : From Sheep to Pigs

Domaine de la Sapinière: The flock grew to 1,000 sheep, representing four breeds and their crossbreeds. This genetic diversity attracted the attention of a young scientist, Jeanne Pujol-Grosclaude, and her technician, Gérard Ruffet, who collected blood samples from lambs and ewes for further study.

Domaine de Galle: INRA’s Land Works Unit (UTF), led by Paul Puyaubert, built platforms for the goat barn (200 places), the maternity unit, and pig fattening facilities (10 buildings with a capacity of 120 pigs).

1966 : Cattle and Goats Join the Program

Domaine de la Sapinière : Construction of Sheepfold C (400 places) by UTF, with funding from the DGRST (Délégation Générale à la Recherche Scientifique et Technique).

Domaine de Galle: Completion of half the pig maternity ward, along with a shed and a 2 x 10-stall milking parlor for goats.

1967/1968 : Continued Construction

Domaine de la Sapinière: Completion of the current office buildings and a sheep infirmary.

Domaine de Galle: Construction of the goat barn and four staff housing units.

1969/1970 : A New Cycle Begins

The first generation of experiments ends and implementation of the Vachotron.

2009 : Closure of the Pig Farm

  Closure of the Cattle Vachotron Facility at Galle

2020/2021: A New Era
Construction of the new goat barn and Phenotyping Hall in Osmoy marked a strategic consolidation, bringing together all divisions—sheep, goats, and plants—on a single site at Domaine de la Sapinière.

frise historique P3R.pdf