Goats and Sheep Return to Graze at UA Campus: Date and Time

Students, faculty, technical and service staff... and also goats and sheep. The herd returns once again to the University of Alicante to celebrate its traditional passage through the royal cattle track that crosses the campus.

This livestock walk through the academic institution's facilities is customary every October. It reminds us of the uniqueness of the royal cattle track of the University of Alicante.

The goats and sheep from the Cañada del Fenollar herder, Santiago Pastor Sogorb, will cross the campus between 1 PM and 2 PM. The route will be from the west campus to the sculpture 'Dibuixar l'espai', known as La Mano.

With this walk, the University of Alicante pays tribute to the shepherds, after transhumance was recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in addition to the 751st anniversary of the creation of the Honored Council of the Mesta.

This organization was created in Castile in the 13th century to defend the interests of transhumant sheep farming, dissolved and replaced in 1836 by the General Association of Livestock Farmers.

Likewise, the University of Alicante celebrates its traditional Royal Cattle Track Days of the University of Alicante composed of a program that this year presents seven lectures, two round tables, and a tribute to the naturalist Jesús Garzón Heydt.

Under the title 'Transhumance, a living heritage', the days will take place this Thursday, October 24, at the Faculty of Law and at the University Headquarters City of Alicante of the UA.

According to José Luis Casas Martínez, director of the University Institute of Research of the Ibero-American Center for Biodiversity (Cibio) and coordinator of the day's program, this year the day has "a very special character because transhumance was declared in December 2023 Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, after a long process supported by an international candidacy led by Spain."

He also adds that "this new international recognition reinforces the role of this activity not only as a historical fact but as something that is still present, that continues to unite territories and advocate for sustainable livestock farming that generates values and biodiversity."