An assessment of the economic performance of organic dairy sheep farming in Greece

Tzouramani, Irene; Sintori, Alexandra; Liontakis, Angelos; Karanikolas, Pavlos; Alexopoulos, George S.

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2011.05.010

Cited by 35 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…However, milk yields reported in the present study agree with those of dairy sheep under organic management reported by Toro-Mujica et al (2011), with an average of 94 kg, ranging from 68 to 125 kg; whereas Tzouramani et al (2011) reported an average TMY of 84 kg/lactation.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Comparison of Mathematical Models Applied to F1 Dairy Sheep Lactations in Organic Farm and Environmental Factors Affecting Lactation Curve Parameter

Ángeles-Hernández¹,

Portillo

Gonzalez³

et al. 2013

Asian Australas. J. Anim. Sci

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The objective of this study was to compare the goodness of fit of four lactation curve models: Wood’s Gamma model (WD), Wilmink (WL), and Pollott’s multiplicative two (POL2) and three parameters (POL3) and to determine the environmental factors affecting the complete lactation curve of F1 dairy sheep under organic management. A total of 5,382 weekly milk yields records from 150 ewes, under organic management were used. Residual mean square (RMS), determination coefficients (R2), and correlation (r) analysis were used as an indicator of goodness of fit for each model. WL model best fitted the lactation curves as indicated by the lower RMS values (0.019), followed by WD (0.023), POL2 (0.025) and POL3 (0.029). The four models provided total milk yield (TMY) estimations that were highly correlated (0.93 to 0.97) with observed TMY (89.9 kg). The four models under estimated peak yield (PY), whereas POL2 and POL3 gave nearer peak time lactation estimations. Ewes lambing in autumn had higher TMY and showed a typical curve shape. Higher TMY were recorded in second and third lambing. Season of lambing, number of lambing and type of lambing had a great influenced over TMY shaping the complete lactation curve of F1 dairy sheep. In general terms WL model showed the best fit to the F1 dairy sheep lactation curve under organic management.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Comparison of Mathematical Models Applied to F1 Dairy Sheep Lactations in Organic Farm and Environmental Factors Affecting Lactation Curve Parameter

Ángeles-Hernández¹,

Portillo

Gonzalez³

et al. 2013

Asian Australas. J. Anim. Sci

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“…Agricultural business management out of the farm gate (to add value to the products and direct marketing) is essential for livestock production, even more in added value foods, so that farmers receive a higher price for their products. This has been identified as one of the main factors that determine the profitability of organic farms [4,33,[48][49][50]. Moreover, these practices increase social interaction, opportunities in the rural world and the social and environmental impact of the food chain upstream.…”

Section: Self-sufficiency and Agri-food Chain Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beef Cattle Farms’ Conversion to the Organic System. Recommendations for Success in the Face of Future Changes in a Global Context

Escribano¹

2016

Sustainability

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Dehesa is a remarkable agroforestry system, which needs the implementation of sustainable production systems in order to reduce its deterioration. Moreover, its livestock farms need to adapt to a new global market context. As a response, the organic livestock sector has expanded not only globally but also in the region in search for increased overall sustainability. However, conversions to the organic system have been commonly carried out without analyzing farms' feasibility to do so. This analysis is necessary before implementing any new production system in order to reduce both the diversity of externalities that the variety of contexts leads to and the vulnerability of the DDehesa ecosystem to small management changes. Within this context and in the face of this gap in knowledge, the present paper analyzes the ease of such conversions and the farms' chances of success after conversion in the face of global changes (market and politics). Different aspects ("areas of action") were studied and integrated within the Global Conversion Index (GCI), and the legal requirement for European organic farming, organic principles, future challenges for ruminants' production systems, as well as the lines of action for the post-2013 CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) and their impacts on the beef cattle sector were taken into account. Results revealed that farms must introduce significant changes before initiating the conversion process, since they had very low scores on the GCI (42.74%), especially with regard to health and agro-ecosystem management (principle of Ecology). Regarding rearing and animal welfare (principle of justice/fairness), farms were close to the organic system. From the social point of view, active participation in manufacturing and marketing of products should be increased.

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“…In this regard, it is fair to mention that most of the benefits provided by the organic production model in relation to rural development seem to be due to both their participation in short marketing channels [31][32] and obtaining a higher price ("price premium") for their organic products [33][34]. According to the authors cited, this premium price is necessary for organic farms profitability, especially during the years of conversion, because the farms' incomes are often reduced and costs increased [31][32].…”

Section: Socio-economic and Environmental Role Of Livestock Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In summary, the authors have come to the conclusion that many of the benefits provided by organic production in relation to rural development are not due to the mere fact produced under the ecological model, but to sell their products through short marketing channels [31][32] and to obtain a higher price ("price premium") for organic products [33][34]. This is especially important during the years of conversion because farm incomes are often reduced, and its costs increased.…”

Section: Socio-economic and Environmental Role Of Livestock Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic Livestock Farming — Challenges, Perspectives, and Strategies to Increase Its Contribution to the Agrifood System’s Sustainability — A Review

Escribano¹

2016

Organic Farming - A Promising Way of Food Production

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The livestock sector is of great importance for the sustainability of rural economies and many ecosystems; however, it also has a high environmental impact. Due to the growing demand for animal products, there is a need to design new livestock production systems that allow the combination of food security and sustainability. Within this context, organic livestock may be a useful strategy to achieve such a pivotal goal. However, there is a lack of studies that integrate the existing knowledge, specifically in organic livestock, and integrating the main aspects implied in its practice (its externalities and challenges). The present work aims to fill this knowledge gap, providing strategies and insights that will help stakeholders and policy makers to improve the sustainability of both the organic sector itself and that of the whole food system.

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An assessment of the economic performance of organic dairy sheep farming in Greece

Cited by 35 publications

References 13 publications

Comparison of Mathematical Models Applied to F1 Dairy Sheep Lactations in Organic Farm and Environmental Factors Affecting Lactation Curve Parameter

Comparison of Mathematical Models Applied to F1 Dairy Sheep Lactations in Organic Farm and Environmental Factors Affecting Lactation Curve Parameter

Beef Cattle Farms’ Conversion to the Organic System. Recommendations for Success in the Face of Future Changes in a Global Context

Organic Livestock Farming — Challenges, Perspectives, and Strategies to Increase Its Contribution to the Agrifood System’s Sustainability — A Review

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