SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES IN SHEEP FARMING: FOCUS ON QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPATIBILITY

 XXI međunarodna konvencija o kvalitetu JUSK ICQ – 29 – 31. maj 2025, Beograd, (50-56 str.)   

 

АУТОР(И) / AUTHOR(S): Bogdan Cekić , Dragana Ružić-Muslić , Nevena Maksimović , Ivan Ćosić , Krstina Zeljić Stojiljković , Tamara Stamenić 

 

Download Full Pdf   

DOI:  10.46793/XXIJUSK-ICQ.050C

САЖЕТАК / ABSTRACT:

Sheep farming in Serbia plays an important role in the preservation of rural communities, cultural heritage and landscapes. However, depopulation, declining flock sizes and pressure from imports require a shift to sustainable models. This paper presents integrated approaches combining environmental, economic and social principles and focus on product quality and environmental responsibility. The study includes a literature review, and interviews with farmers. The results show that appropriate genotypes, rotational grazing, renewable energy and value-adding strategies such as certification, branding and agritourism improve both environmental sustainability and market competitiveness. Indigenous sheep breeds are superior to imported ones in grazing systems as they offer better adaptability, resource efficiency and linkage with traditional products. Rotational grazing reduces winter feed and fertilizer costs by up to 40%, while the average daily gain in European systems reaches ~193 g/day. Pasture-raised meat has a higher omega‑3 content (up to 146 mg/100 g). Solar and biogas systems improve energy self-sufficiency and reduce emissions. Innovative uses for wool support the goals of the circular economy. Sustainable sheep farming is therefore a viable model for resilient, market-oriented rural development.

КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ / KEYWORDS:

sheep farming, sustainability, product quality, ecology, innovation

ПРОЈЕКАТ / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The research is funded on the basis of agreements of realization and financing of scientific research work of SRO No. 451-03-136/2025-03/200022 by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia.

ЛИТЕРАТУРА / REFERENCES:

  • FAO, The State of Food and Agriculture 2022: Leveraging Automation in Agriculture for Transforming Agrifood Systems, FAO, Rome 2022.
  • The State of the world’s land and water resources for food and agriculture, Managing systems at risk. FAO, Rome 2011.
  • Ripoll-Bosch, R., de Boer, I.J.M., Bernués, A., Vellinga, T.V., Greenhouse gas emissions along the life cycle of Spanish lamb-meat: A comparison of three production systems, Proceedings from 7th International Seminar of the FAO-CIHEAM Network on Sheep and Goats, Sub-Network on Production Systems, Zaragoza, Spain 125-130, 2012.
  • Bernués, A., Ruiz, R., Olaizola, A., Villalba, D., Casasús, I., Sustainability of pasture-based livestock farming systems in the European Mediterranean context: Synergies and trade-offs, Livestock Science. 139, 1-2, 44-57, 2011.
  • Soriano, B, Paas, W., Reidsma, P., San Martin, C., Kopainsky, B., Herrera, H., Overcoming collapse of farming systems: shifting from vicious to virtuous circles in the extensive sheep farming system in Huesca (Spain), Ecology and Society 29,4,37, 2024.
  • European Commission, Farm to Fork Strategy: For a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system, European Commision, 2020.
  • van der Linden, A., de Olde, E. M., Mostert, P. F., de Boer, I.J.M., A review of European models to assess the sustainability performance of livestock production systems, Agricultural Systems, 182, 102842, 2020.
  • Dumont, B., Fortun-Lamothe, L., Jouven, M., Thomas, M., Tichit, M, Prospects from agroecology and industrial ecology for animal production in the 21st century, Animal, 14, S1, 7–17, 2020.
  • Nori, M., Farinella, D., Migration, Agriculture and Rural Development, Springer Open, New York, USA, 2019.
  • Tong, X., Li, Y., Zhang, H., Chen, Z., Analysis of rotational grazing management for sheep in mixed grassland, PeerJ, 12, e14321, 2024.
  • Ruiz-Huidobro, C., Sagot, L., Lugagne, S., Huang, Y., Milhes, M., Bordes, L., Prévot, F., Grisez, C., Gautier, D., Valadier, C., Sautier, M., Jacquiet, P., Cell grazing and Haemonchus contortus control in sheep: lessons from a two-year study in temperate Western Europe, Scientific Reports, 9,1,12699, 2019.
  • Ponnampalam, E.N., Priyashantha, H., Vidanarachchi, J.K., Kiani, A., Holman, B.W.B., Effects of nutritional factors on fat content, fatty acid composition, and sensorial properties of meat and milk from domesticated ruminants: an overview, Animals, 14, 6, 840, 2024.
  • Wood, J. D., Enser, M., Fisher, A. V., Nute, G. R., Sheard, P. R., Richardson, R. I., Whittington, F. M., Fat deposition, fatty acid composition and meat quality: A review, Meat Science, 78, 343-358, 2008.
  • Vasta, V., Yáñez-Ruiz, D. R., Mele, M., Serra, A., Luciano, G., Lanza, M., Biondi, L., Priolo, A., Bacterial and protozoal communities and fatty acid profile in the rumen of sheep fed a diet containing added tannins. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 76, 8, pp. 2549–2555, 2010.
  • Molle, G., Cabiddu, A., Decandia, M., Sitzia, M., Ibba, I., Giovanetti, V., Scanu, G., Addis, M., Caredda, M. Can FT-Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy of Milk Samples Discriminate Different Dietary Regimens of Sheep Grazing With Restricted Access Time? Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 623823, 2021.
  • Belletti, G., Burgassi, T., Manco, E., Marescotti, A., Pacciani, A., & Scaramuzzi, S. The roles of geographical indications (PDO and PGI) on agro-food small-to-medium enterprises, Proceedings from the 105th European Association of Agricultural Economists Seminar, Bologna, Italy, pp 517-539, 2007.
  • Belletti, G., Marescotti, A., Touzard, J.M., Geographical indications and sustainable development: Actors’ strategies and policy roles, World Development, 98, pp. 45-57, 2017.
  • Handler, R., Pearce, J.M., Life cycle analysis of integrated sheep agrivoltaic systems: reducing greenhouse gas emissions with solar grazed sheep, Cleaner Energy Systems, 3, 100036, 2022.
  • Terence, S.; Immaculate, J.; Raj, A.; Nadarajan, J., Systematic Review on Internet of Things in Smart Livestock Management Systems, Sustainability, 16, 4073, 2024.
  • Charlebois, S, Latif, N., Ilahi, I., Sarker, B., Music, J., Vezeau, J., Digital Traceability in Agri-Food Supply Chains: A Comparative Analysis of OECD Member Countries, Foods, 13, 1075, 2024.
  • Midolo, G., Porto, S. M. C., Cascone, G., Valenti, F., Sheep Wool Waste Availability for Potential Sustainable Re‑Use and Valorization: A GIS-Based Model, Agriculture, 14,16, 872, 2024.
  • Camilli, F., Focacci, M., Dal Prà, A., Bortolu, S., Ugolini, F., Vagnoni, E., Duce, P., Turning Waste Wool into a Circular Resource: A Review of Eco-Innovative Applications in Agriculture. Agronomy, 15, 446