Who is Neige?
#Neige, Abondance, mascot of # SIA2022
4-year-old Neige (Snow) owes her name to 3 symbols: the snow that covers the mountain pastures from November to May. Snow, the emblem of Savoy and the mountains. And the Abondance breed, which is said to be white only where the snow can touch it: on the muzzle, under the belly and on the legs. And yet Neige was born in summer, at an altitude of 1600 metres, on a ski slope, just under the chairlift in the Grand-Bornand resort, on the Maroly mountain pasture to be precise, where she grazes in the good weather. A most unusual birth!
Neige was selected to represent the breed and feature on the poster for the 2022 edition of the Show, because she is the perfect illustration of the Abondance breed: a mahogany-red magpie coat, a head with a thick white quiff. Light-coloured horns and red spectacle-shaped markings around the eyes that reduce the sun's glare and therefore make her perfectly suited to the mountain environment. A source of pride for Philippe Missilier, her breeder: "I am particularly proud that Neige will be the star of the next International Agricultural Show, since it's the first time that the Abondance breed has been honoured! It's an opportunity for me to promote the breed, our profession, our know-how and our territory because it is important to show the diversity and the richness of French livestock farming”.
All the top-quality milk that Neige produces, along with the other cows in the herd, is used to make Reblochon, Tomme and Raclette, on the Missilier family farm in Grand-Bornand.
Abondance, a local breed that showcases French dairy farming
Although it represents only 1% of the national herd, Abondance is the 4th largest French dairy breed with nearly 60,000 cows. A local breed par excellence, 75% of the herds are located in the two Savoys, with nearly 50% in Haute-Savoie, and 20% in the Massif-Central.
Perfectly suited to the mountain regions from which it originates, the Abondance breed is very hardy, is capable of travelling long distances and adapts well to temperature variations. It also contributes to the development of rural areas, particularly in the mountains, and to the reduction of inputs thanks to the manure.
Appreciated for its longevity and calving abilities, the breed’s unique qualities have enabled it to settle in the Italian Alps but also beyond Europe: in Egypt, Algeria, the Ivory Coast, and certain mountainous countries. Proof of its adaptability to difficult breeding conditions.
A dairy, mountain-dwelling and rustic breed, the Abondance is involved in the production of 14 cheeses with IGP or PDO appellations such as Abondance, Beaufort, Reblochon and Tome des Bauges.
Philippe Missillier, breeder and producer of farmhouse cheeses
The son of Abondance breeders and Reblochon producers, Philippe joined the family business at the age of 21 in the village of Grand-Bornand, the birthplace of Reblochon, where there is one cow for every inhabitant! « Breeding is a real vocation. This profession allows me to enjoy a freedom that few trades can offer. The freedom to organise my own time, to work outdoors with animals. »
Today, 4 generations live together on the 65-hectare farm where 47 cows produce top quality milk that is then transformed from A to Z directly on the farm into farmhouse Reblochon, Tomme and Raclette by the breeder, his son Arnaud and his daughter-in-law Pauline. A tradition and an expertise that are passed on from generation to generation with pride. “I transform the milk from my cows into farmhouse cheeses, right up to the maturing and direct sales of my products. What could be more satisfying than being in control of all the steps that go into producing my 200 daily Reblochon? It's a profession that I can't wait to share at the Show ”.