If you see the label ‘Agneau du Poitou-Charentes, you know that the lamb have been raised on family-run farms, with the lambs kept with their mothers for two months. They will also be from local breeds and have been born and bred in these three areas in the Poitou-Charentes.
To the east, around Confolens in the Charente-Limousine where Texel (originally from the Netherlands) and the French breed Charollais are the most common breeds. In and around Montmorillon in the Vienne to the north where the French breed Charmoise is popular. It was developed in the late 18th century by crossing imported Romney sheep from the UK with native hill sheep. To the west, in the countryside north of Niort and the Marais Poitevin. Here they breed the local breed, Vendeen, that was developed by crossing local ewes with British Southdown rams in the 19th century.