ACRIMUR is the Spanish Association of Murciano-Granadina goat Breeders, which was established in 1979 and involves about 170 flocks with over 70 000 goats along different regions of Spain, mostly in the Region of Murcia. The main objectives of ACRIMUR are the management of the genealogical record of the Murciano-Granadina goat and the genetic improvement of the breed through the application of its selection programme. In order to perform the genetic improvement programme, flocks are divided into two different status, establishing a selective group that consists of the most implicated farms. All the activities developed in the flocks from the selective group are based on testing bucks from genetic improvement centers.

These activities may be classified into four different parts:

• Genealogical record: First control is to be made by breeders themselves since ACRIMUR requires them to identify the motherhood of all kids at birth. Moreover, ACRIMUR carries out filiation tests through DNA analysis of bucks and kids.
• Milk control: All ACRIMUR flocks are subject to milk controls performed by the corresponding official regional centers. The results from these controls are evaluated by ACRIMUR and incorporated into its database.
• Control of reproductive management and artificial insemination: ACRIMUR helps in the coordination of the different regional teams of insemination technicians, planning the most suitable use of semen from selected bucks with high genetic value according to the characteristics of the different ACRIMUR farms, and evaluating semen of new test bucks.
• Genetic evaluation: Annually, ACRIMUR provides genealogical and productive information to geneticists, which perform genetic evaluations of all animals from the selective group of ACRIMUR flocks and of bucks from the genetic improvement centers. Using this information, ACRIMUR develops the annual catalogue of selected bucks, the summary of the genetic evaluations and the productive yields of farms in the selective group.

ACRIMUR also carries out diffusion and promotion activities of the Murciano-Granadina goat, organizing the national auction of the breed, publishing a livestock information magazine and updating the web www.acrimur.es. The association also organizes training workshops for breeders and technicians, undertaking the technical assessment of feed, handling and health, etc.

©ACRIMUR

Collaboration in R&D projects:

On the other hand, ACRIMUR collaborates in R&D projects designed to improve the breed with the University of Murcia, Miguel Hernández University, IMIDA (Murcia Institute of Agricultural Research and Development), etc.

ACRIMUR participates currently in the European FLOCK-REPROD project, organizing the experimental work in coordination with INIA (Spanish RTD performer of the project), selecting the farms and flocks involved in the project and helping in sampling and animal handling. ACRIMUR is greatly interested in developing new reproductive strategies and technologies that allow it to continue with its selection programme, involving the use of artificial insemination and avoiding the current hormonal treatments, which are linked to female fertility problems and presence of hormone residues in milk. Moreover, the use of sustainable and ecological reproduction methods proposed by FLOCK-REPROD is even more necessary if a greater product quality is to be achieved, and may allow a significant reduction in the reproductive management costs. Therefore, given the high number of AI performed by ACRIMUR throughout the year and the growing consumer demand for more natural and ecological products, ACRIMUR considers that FLOCK-REPROD project may generate a very beneficial impact on the development of the Murciano-Granadina goat milk market from both an economic and an ecological point of view.