"El Honrado Concejo de la Mesta de Alfonso X fue creado en 1273 por Alfonso X el Sabio, reuniendo a todos los pastores de León y de Castilla en una asociación ibérica y otorgándoles importantes prerrogativas y privilegios tales como eximirlos del servicio militar y de testificar en los juicios, derechos de paso y pastoreo, etc. Con anterioridad ya los ganaderos se reunían en asambleas o concejos llamados "mestas" (la palabra mesta proviene de mixta, que significa 'mezclada') en diversas localidades dos o tres veces al año con el fin de tratar de los negocios concernientes a sus ganados o gobierno económico, y para distinguir y separar los mestencos (animales sin dueño conocido) que se hubiesen mezclado. Durante la Edad Media y con el paso del tiempo, se añaden nuevos privilegios reales a la Mesta, como pasará a ser conocida, junto con una fiscalización especial para protegerla de los agricultores, lo que provocó largos e incontables pleitos hasta el año 1836, en que se abolió. La Mesta es considerada una de las agrupaciones corporativas o gremios más importantes de Europa de la Edad Media y el primer gremio ganadero, aunque existieron corporaciones locales de ganaderos anteriores en Aragón (Casa de Ganaderos de Zaragoza)"
"The Mesta (Spanish Honrado Concejo de la Mesta, which means "Honorable Council of the Mesta") was a powerful association of sheep ranchers in the medieval Crown of Castile. The sheep were transhumant, migrating from the pastures of Extremadura and Andalusia to León and Castile and back according to the season. The no-man's-land (up to 100 km across) between the Christian-controlled north and Moorish-controlled south was too insecure for arable farming and was only exploited by shepherds. When the Christians conquered the south, farmers began to settle in the grazing lands, and disputes with pastoralists were common. The Mesta, set up in the late 13th century, can be regarded as the first, and most powerful, agricultural union in medieval Europe. The export of merino wool enriched the members of the Mesta (the nobility and religious orders) who had acquired ranches during the process of Reconquista. Two of the most important wool markets were held in Medina del Campo and Burgos. The kings of Castile conceded many privileges to the Mesta. The cañadas (traditional rights-of-way for sheep that perhaps date back to prehistoric times) are legally protected "forever" from being built on or blocked. The most important cañadas were called cañadas reales (or "royal cañadas"), because they were established by the king. Some Madrid streets are still part of the cañada system, and there are groups of people who occasionally drive sheep across the modern city as a reminder of their ancient rights and cultures, although these days sheep are generally transported by rail."