On April 15–16, 2026, Sud Ouest Mash, a subsidiary of Sud Ouest Aliment (SOAL), took part in the PROVINLAIT trade show, held at the sheep market in Réquista, Aveyron.
This is a must-attend event for the sheep dairy sector and all local stakeholders, bringing together technicians from the Confédération Générale de Roquefort, Unotec, Idèle, major dairies, nutritionists, and livestock equipment suppliers for two days of networking and collaboration.
The sheep dairy sector: a historic cornerstone for two SOAL subsidiaries
France is a major player in this sector, producing approximately 320 million liters of milk from nearly 1.5 million sheep. The majority of this production is concentrated in the south, particularly in mountain areas that are vital to local regional development. Two main basins dominate the landscape: the Pyrénées-Atlantiques (Béarn and the Basque Country) and the Roquefort basin in Aveyron, which together account for the vast majority of sheep farms. These regions, represented by Bazkaona and SO MASH, were naturally in the spotlight at PROVINLAIT, with many customers from these iconic territories in attendance.
The SO MASH team in action
The entire Aveyron-based team was on hand for the occasion: Yves Maynard, Jean-Luc Reilles, Jérémy Coulon, Joël Pages, and Gaëlle Vergnes. As field specialists in direct contact with farmers, they are the face of SO MASH’s expertise. Beyond professional networking, the event is also highly valued for its wide range of conferences, demonstrations, and exhibitions—a true forum for discussion where everyone can voice the real-world challenges and stakes facing the industry.
A wealth of encounters
Many farmers visited our stand to discuss their farming practices and future projects. These conversations are essential to strengthening our connection to the field and ensuring we continue to offer solutions tailored to the needs of each farm. We enjoyed rich and friendly discussions not only with industry professionals but also with students from local agricultural colleges. This gave us the opportunity to showcase our various roles and spark interest in the sector among the next generation.
We would like to thank our customers and everyone we met at PROVINLAIT for these two days, which were as rewarding professionally as they were personally.
