Aurélie and Julien VALET, transhumant shepherds for around 10 years, have found our little corner of paradise in the Combrailles. The GAEC La magie des bergers is a family-run business based in Ayat-sur-Sioule, in the Puy de Dôme.
Our herds are reared in mountainous areas and stay out in the pasture for as long as possible, before returning to the sheepfold during snowy spells. Then, as soon as the weather is fine, all the ewes go out to pasture in the open air. In spring and autumn, they help to maintain the steepest, most overgrown meadows on the farm. In May, the mating season begins. Then, when summer comes, we take them up to the mountain pastures to give them a holiday in the fresh air (at the same time as their maternity leave) and enjoy the rich and varied flora of the high mountains.
On the way down from the mountain, the ewes give birth and raise their lambs. Then we start milking the dairy cows. All the milk is produced, processed and matured on the farm. We offer a varied range of fresh, ripened and coated cheeses; yoghurts (plain, flavoured and fruit) and also tommes. We take great care in feeding our ewes, so that we can offer you a quality product (GMO-free grain, made in Creuse _ ABL Nutrition).
Unlike the cheeses, we don't have a laboratory for processing the meat. Instead, we work with the Ferme des Lozamies (located in Saint Georges de Mons): slaughterhouse in Brioude and soon in Issoire (very respectful of animal welfare), professionally cut and vacuum-packed. For Easter, we'll be selling parcels of lamb (1/4, 1/2 or whole), so don't hesitate to place your order.
We believe that being close to consumers is essential if we are to
to explain our farming practices and meet your expectations as best we can. That's why we mainly sell direct, at local markets and in our farm shop.
local markets, in the farm shop and soon in supermarkets.
We don't have any particular label, because for us the best label is the one you see!
Host portrait
After 10 years of nomadism, following the growth of the grass and the sheep as shepherds (from the hills of Provence to the mountain pastures of the Hautes-Alpes), we decided to settle down (or almost, we continue the mountain pasture seasons with our flock) and set up our own flock. We're animal lovers, so we've got a big family: dairy ewes (Thônes and Marthod - a breed with low numbers), suckler ewes (Romney crossed with Merinos and lots of other crosses depending on the breeds we like), Rove goats (to remind us of Provence), horses (which help us when we're on guard duty in the mountains), chickens, cats and not forgetting our dogs (guard dogs, which are always with the ewes to watch over and protect them; working dogs, which follow us on a daily basis to manage and lead the flock).
We eventually found our little corner of paradise in Ayat-sur-Sioule, where we took over a farm that had been producing dairy cows. The challenge was to make it reflect our image and, above all, to adapt it to sheep. So we embarked on a lot of renovation work (and there's still more to do). Over the past 2 years, we've started to see the changes: a new milking parlour in the old cow shed (we've kept the pit); construction of the cheese-processing laboratory; conversion of the sheep pens; etc.
We're full of projects and dreams that we're gradually trying to realise.
Ouverture
From 01/12/2024 to 30/04/2025, every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
From 01/12 to 31/12/2025, every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Tarifs
Nous consulter.
Contact et accès
5 Les blots
63390 Ayat-sur-Sioule
Puy-de-Dôme (63)
