This paper describes the main development organizations of dairy sheep in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (CAPV), as well as its evolution and current status after the initiation of a conservation and improvement programme of the native Latxa and Carranzana breeds in 1981, by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Basque Government. The territorial breeders associations (AGORALA, ELE, ACOL and ASLANA) together with the management centres (SERGAL, LURGINTZA, LORRA) and the respective Provincial Governments of the CAPV (Alava, Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia), are the basic development structures of the Milk Health and Milk Recording Programmes. Ardiekin-Confelac as a structure which participates in the Associations, develops the management of the genetic improvement programme through the use of AI. The research centres of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (CIMA and SIMA) participate actively in different R&D projects. The professional organization with closest links to Idiazabal cheese (Artzai-gazta and Appellation d'Origine) participate in the defence of a production system characteristic of the Spanish Basque Country and Navarre.