[Ital J Anim Sci vol.14:2015] [page 179] Diversity in the dry landmixed system and viability of dairy sheep farming

Castilla La Mancha is a Spanish region where sheep farming system is traditionally pasture-based. Recently, this territory has undergone a recession of dairy sheep activity, which changed the type and intensity of land utilization and led to environmental and land-scape degradation. The present study analyzed the diversity and viability of dairy sheep of mixed systems. Multivariate analysis was con-ducted on 157 dairy sheep farms, factor analy-sis selected 3 productivity factors (level of intensification, land use, size and family labour), and cluster analysis classified farms into three groups. Group 1, smallholders – with the smallest size (405.5 ewes and 564.7 ha), lowest area in ownership (1.5%), and agricul-ture activity (6.5 % crops area): family farms (90.8%) highly dependent on external inputs. Group 2, large-scale farms (1058.7 ewes and 1755.1 ha) – with the lowest stocking rate (0.14 livestock unit/ha) and productivity: non-family farms (39.1%) with low area in owner-ship (4.1%) and agriculture activity (7.6%). Group 3, mixed-technified – with the highest levels of technology and least use of family labour (27.0%): large-scale farms (1387.4 ewes and 955.8 ha), combining milk production with agricultural activities (55.7 % crops area), with the highest area in ownership (63.1%) and the best productivity performance. In conclusion, the dry land mixed system of Castilla La Mancha showed diversity of farms. Improving viability requires a systemic approach where the key tool is grazing, allowing the mixed sys-tem to be consolidated as a model that enhances the positive impact of livestock on the environment in the Mediterranean basin