The Romanian farm keeping transhumance alive – Agriculture and rural development Skip to main content
In spring, when the snow melts on the Carpathians, thousands of sheep start a journey that has shaped Romania’s landscapes for centuries. Led along traditional grazing routes, they climb towards high-altitude pastures where they will spend the summer before returning to the valleys in autumn.
A prime example of this tradition is the George Catean Farm, a sixth-generation family farm with 1,400 sheep, 120 cows and 300 hectares for crop production that continues the practice of transhumance. This is the seasonal migration of livestock between lowland and mountain grazing areas. Though highly traditional, it still represents a remarkably efficient method for sustainable livestock production.
For us, livestock farming is not only about production. It is about caring for animals, managing pastures, keeping local recipes alive and bringing honest food to people’s tables.
George Catean
The benefits of Transhumance
The combination of seasonal grazing and locally produced feed creates benefits that extend beyond the farm gate. Livestock graze diverse mountain grasslands during the summer months, allowing the lower pastures time to recover while making productive use of land that would otherwise be difficult to farm.
Many of the indigenous breeds we raise are considered primitive breeds. They do not produce the highest milk yields and are often less compatible with modern intensive farming technologies. However, they possess exceptional qualities: they are highly resilient to climate change, perfectly adapted to mountain and pasture conditions, and capable of living in landscapes with a high density of large carnivores such as bears and wolves. Protecting these breeds means protecting biodiversity, genetic heritage and the resilience of future agriculture.
George Catean
The use of these unique breeds as well as this careful management helps preserve some of Europe’s richest semi-natural grasslands, habitats that support an extraordinary diversity of wildflowers, insects and bird species. Romania has some of the largest remaining areas of High Nature Value farmland in the European Union, and traditional grazing systems play a vital role in maintaining them.
As farming becomes more intensive in lowland regions, marginal mountain landscapes often face the problem of grazing land disappearing altogether. Without livestock, grasslands gradually become overgrown leading to the loss of open habitats and the species that depend on them. Seasonal grazing keeps these landscapes viable while preserving the distinctive rural scenery that defines many parts of the Carpathians.
The system also demonstrates resilience in economic terms. Producing feed on the farm reduces exposure to unpredictable commodity markets and feed prices, while seasonal grazing lowers the need for forage in Summer. By making use of natural grass resources, farms can reduce production costs without compromising animal welfare or productivity.
The old and the new
Importantly, the farm shows that traditional practices and modern sustainability objectives are not in conflict. The seasonal movement of livestock improves the use of natural resources, supports biodiversity, contributes to healthier soils through protein crops such as alfalfa and helps sustain established rural livelihoods.
Across Europe, policymakers are searching for ways to make livestock farming more resilient while reducing its environmental footprint. Often, the discussion centres on new technologies. The experience of George Catean Farm suggests another path is possible: combining tried and tested knowledge with contemporary agricultural science to build farming systems that are both productive and sustainable.
Looking at the impact
Europe’s transition to more resilient agriculture will depend on recognising the value of practices that have quietly balanced food production, biodiversity and rural livelihoods for generations. When asked about the overall impact of the work of the farm Mr Catean was refreshingly optimistic.
I think the most important impact is that Ferma Căţean shows that a family livestock farm can still have a future, if tradition, quality and innovation are brought together in a practical way. The farm helps keep local breeds, local recipes and local food culture alive. It also shows that high nature value grasslands are not just beautiful landscapes. They are working landscapes, shaped by animals and farmers, and they can produce food while also supporting biodiversity, soil health and rural identity.
George Catean