Sheep production in Spanish dry mountain areas: 1. Effects of Spring management on ewe live weight, milk yield and lamb performance in Churra Tensina breed

Extract

Traditional sheep producers in the South European countries fed lambs with concentrate, in order to obtain light carcasses of young animals. As a consequence of this lamb production system, large grazing areas have been abandoned. However, some producers are taking into consideration the extensive grazing systems to reduce costs and at the same time to obtain subsidies established by the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU. Moreover, the increasing demand of healthy and safe meat products is stimulating the interest in pasture-based production systems. However, in our dry mountain conditions, this grazing system can be associated to poorer ewe and lamb performances. The present study sought to compare the productive parameters of ewes and lambs obtained in four different management strategies.