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The manure produced by the sheep was highly important in the life of Basque shepherds in the past as it was used as fertiliser and to pay the rent of the pastureland. At the time of transhumance during the winter to search for food for the flock, as well as paying an amount of cash to rent the pastureland that was the most common payment system, there was also payment in kind with the shepherds giving the workers the manure of their sheep to be used as fertiliser and the whey to feed the pigs<ref>José Miguel de BARANDIARAN. “Vida pastoril vasca: Albergues veraniegos. Trashumancia intrapirenaica” in OO.CC. Volume V. Bilbao: 1974, p. 397.</ref>.
Leoncio de Urabayen provides a compelling piece of information. In the second decade of the 20<sup>th</sup> 20th century – he points out – in the Pamplona basin, shepherding was not a good business and “only the manure kept them going”. This was also reported in our surveys. In Roncal (N), a shepherd explained that in the past when they left the Bardenas at the end of spring and left for the pens, they sometimes made more money from selling the ''sirrio ''or manure and the cheese than from selling the lambs. In Bernedo (A), it was reported that the manure from the high pastureland and the village streets was auctioned around St. Michael’s Day on 29 September. In Bajauri, Obécuri and Urturi (A), the sheep manure was considered to be the best. A shepherd from Nabarniz (B) remembered that it was sold as fertiliser in the past.
{{DISPLAYTITLE: XXI. SHEARING. ARDI-MOZTEA}} {{#bookTitle:Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country | Ganaderia_y_pastoreo_en_vasconia/en}}
