HERDSMEN, A CHANGING PROFESSION

men that live in permanence with the animals are in peril, since herdsman is the least attractive among rural professions. Recently, namely after the entry in the EEC in 1986, and taking advantage of the UE structural funds, in-frastructures aimed at extensive livestock production, such as fencing and water supply have been in-stalled, but still far way from covering the territory. The paper aims to provide a systematic understanding of the changing characteristics of the herdsmen profession and functions. It proposes a model framework to highlight the driving forces of the reported changes, using a case study in South Alentejo (Portugal) as an illustration. The results of a survey to 25 farms in the municipality of Ourique and inquiries to 37 employees work-ing with livestock show a mosaic of situations ranging from remnants of the traditional herdsman to an-other type of worker, the so called polyvalent which is able to use the machinery and work in a more so-phisticated working environment. They are generally better paid and have living conditions closer to other more urban professions, in some cases a working schedule and a free day per week. Key words: herdsmen, work and living conditions, extensive grazing systems, Southern Alentejo