The truffle, that gastronomic treasure hidden underground, is not so easy to find. To unearth them, man has long relied on companions with an exceptional sense of smell: pigs, dogs, and sometimes even other animals. Today, however, the technique of cavage relies mainly on the complicity between man and his faithful truffle dog.
What is cavage?
Cavage is the term used to describe the search for and harvesting of truffles. It comes from the Occitan verb cavar, meaning "to dig". This age-old practice relies on the sense of smell of specially trained animals, capable of detecting the characteristic odor of ripe truffles buried underground.
Truffle animals: who are the best researchers?
🐶 The truffle dog: the ideal partner
Today, the dog is the most widely used animal for cavage, for several reasons:
- A formidable sense of smell: Some breeds, like the Lagotto Romagnolo, are naturally predisposed to truffle hunting, their character responding especially well to cavage. But in reality, any dog can be trained for this task.
- An obedient ally: Unlike pigs, dogs don't try to eat truffles, which makes harvesting easier. He is trained for the "game" of cavage and receives a reward.
- Effective training: From an early age, a dog can learn to identify the smell of truffles through playful exercises and rewards.
🐷 The truffle pig: a former expert who's a little too greedy
In the past, pigs were commonly used to find truffles, particularly in France. Sows are naturally attracted by the smell of truffles, which contain a molecule close to the sexual pheromones of males.
However, the use of pigs was gradually abandoned for several reasons:
- He's hard to control, especially when he tries to taste the truffle before the truffle grower.
- It's heavy and unwieldy, making it hard to get around in the forest.
- Its digging method is aggressive and can damage the mycelium, harming future production.
🦡🐿 O ther animals with a keen sense of smell
Some wild animals are also attracted to truffles, often to the great despair of truffle growers! It has been observed that :
- Wild boar love truffles and can wreak havoc on truffle fields.
- Rodents such as squirrels and voles are sometimes tempted to nibble them.
- Some researchers have even tried to train goats or rats to detect truffles, but these alternatives remain anecdotal.
And what about man?
Although man does not possess the same sense of smell as animals, he has developed techniques to understand and facilitate the search for truffles:
- Observing the vegetation: certain plants (such as hazelnut, oak and hornbeam ) are favourable for truffle development.
- Studying the soil: truffles thrive on well-drained limestone soils.
- Accompanying dogs: man and dog form a team where complicity is essential.
An enduring tradition
Cavage is much more than a simple harvesting method: it's a veritable art, handed down from generation to generation. Truffle growers devote a great deal of time to training their dogs and maintaining the truffle beds. The bond between man and animal is at the heart of this practice, making each find even more precious.
