Discovery of Jean-Marie Raymond’s Virgen Maria ganaderia

Jean-Marie Raymond spoke to Midi Libre from his finca located north of Seville. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

The 2024 “camada” with the bulls who will perform in Nîmes and in a large Spanish arena. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

The 2024 “camada” with the bulls who will perform in Nîmes and in a large Spanish arena. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

The 2024 “camada” with the bulls who will perform in Nîmes and in a large Spanish arena. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

The 2024 “camada” with the bulls who will perform in Nîmes and in a large Spanish arena. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

The 2024 “camada” with the bulls who will perform in Nîmes and in a large Spanish arena. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

The 2024 “camada” with the bulls who will perform in Nîmes and in a large Spanish arena. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

The 2024 “camada” with the bulls who will perform in Nîmes and in a large Spanish arena. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

The 2024 “camada” with the bulls who will perform in Nîmes and in a large Spanish arena. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

The 2024 “camada” with the bulls who will perform in Nîmes and in a large Spanish arena. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

In a heavenly setting, the French ganadero based in Andalusia invited Midi Libre to discover his breeding located 30 minutes north of Seville. With enthusiasm, he told us about his return for a second bullfight in Nîmes after September 2018 and the hope of seeing several of his bullfights perform in a very large Spanish arena this time.
Just like its high-end hotel project necessary to find a long-term economic balance.
We will find Virgen Maria for the Feria de Pentecost on Monday May 20 against Juan Leal, Fernando Adrian and Solalito.
 

What is your assessment of Virgen Maria's 2023 season ?

Breeding continues to make progress in our search for a toro that « embiste » and don't do bad things. It’s a challenge to maintain the level achieved in quality. This is why I limit myself to only going out five bullfights per year to showcase the best of our ganaderia.

We went through a complicated period economically with the drought for 18 months which required massive recourse to pienso (food supplements) for the bulls, but also the cows. The demand was there but the companies, with the consequences of Covid, negotiated prices as low as possible. We released novillos and toros which were praised by the bullfighters but they did not completely satisfy me. We can be proud, despite everything, of our results in 2023 with 34 ears and three tails cut out of 27 ridden bulls.

We are therefore continuing our selection work to improve our livestock, still with our 200 cows and 15 breeders and on our Victoriano del Rio and Jandilla line with some Marquis de Domecq breeders.

Five bullfights and a novillada in 2024

How is your 2024 vintage composed ?

We have a novillada and five bullfights, one of which is for a smaller arena. We have several bulls that can perform in a first category arena in Spain and, obviously, a superb lot that will perform for the closing of the Feria de Pentecost in Nîmes with a cartel that seduces me with Juan Leal, Fernando Adrian and Solalito who will give everything to triumph.

What analysis do you make of the breeders' market in Spain ? Many mention an increase in the price of bulls but a sharp increase in production costs…< /p>

The level of pienso has not increased enormously in recent months even if other costs are increasing such as energy or labor. We fear an arrival of livestock from Morocco which may arrive with diseases and may represent a risk in the future. On the other hand, we can rejoice that the « mosquito » has arrived in France and should not disrupt exports to France like last year. It is said that there is a shortage of bulls following Covid four years ago, which could support prices.

Is developing rural tourism becoming an imperative in all livestock farming ?

Welcoming aficionados, developing horse-related visits and offering an immersion in the beauty of the campo has always been a pillar of the breeding farms. We must adapt to the expectations of our society. We fight to defend bullfighting but the view of the majority of people is not favorable to our passion. With the increase in costs and the prices of bulls which change little, we are forced to develop new activities. We therefore want to bring people who want to share special moments in nature.

High-end hotel among the bulls

Where did your recent hotel project come from ?

We offer a unique offer around Seville with a popular place for nature and mountain biking lovers on the edge of a lake and an immersion in a ganaderia for aficionados. We expanded our building to create a high-end rural hotel with eight rooms with a swimming pool and comfort worthy of a 4-star hotel (www.ganaderiavirgenmaria.com). They are allowed to wake up and fall asleep a few meters from the bulls with additional services such as horseback riding, mountain biking and discover breeding or organize privatized tenutas.< /p>

We offer a unique experience with high-end rooms. This strategy is working because bookings are excellent for the next Seville Feria or Holy Week and we have several seminars already booked.