Current state and trends in production of sheep meat in EU and Croatia

Sažetak Proizvodnja mesa kao grana ovčje proizvodnje intenzivnije se razvija početkom 19. stoljeća u zemljama zapadne Europe i na istoku SAD-a zbog porasta broja stanovništva i razvoja industrije. U ovčarstvu, više nego u drugim granama stočarstva, unutar Europske unije postoje znatne razlike u tehnologiji proizvodnje, što dovodi do lokalnih razlika u karakteristikama mesa. Sustav ovčarske proizvodnje se može podijeliti na ekstenzivni koji prevladava u zemljama Sredozemlja, u kojem se kolje sisajuća janjad male tjelesne težine i intenzivni u zemljama Sjeverne Europe u kojima je na cijeni janjad veće tjelesne težine. Posljednjih godina proizvodnja i potrošnja ovčjeg mesa je u padu, najvećim dijelom zbog pojave zarazne šepavosti ovaca, te zbog reforme ZPP-a (zajednička poljoprivredna politika) i velikog uvoza ovaca i ovčjeg mesa iz Novog Zelanda i Australije. Iz istih je razloga u padu proizvodnja i potrošnja ovčjeg mesa u Hrvatskoj, a dijelom i zbog Domovinskog rata u kojem je broj ovaca prepolovljen. Prema statističkim podacima iz 2009. godine još uvijek nije postignut broj ovaca iz 1991. godine. Kao i u ostalim sredozemnim zemljama, i u Hrvatskoj se kolje sisajuća janjad koja se konzumira u komadu ili rasječena u 2-4 komada. Dva najpoznatija tradicionalna suhomesnata proizvoda od ovčjeg mesa su kaštradina i stelja od kojih niti jedan nije zaštićen.Production of meat as a segment of sheep production developed at the beginning of the 19th century in intensive agriculture of western Europe and in the eastern part of the USA because of the increase in population and development of industry. In sheep breeding, more than in other branches of livestock-breeding, there are significant differences in production technology within the EU, which brings to local differences in meat characteristics. Production systems may be divided to extensive and intensive ones.Extensive prevails in Mediterranean countries, where small suckling lambs of small body weight are slaughtered. Intensive system is spread in northern European countries where lambs of larger body weight are appreciated. In recent years the production and consumption of sheep meat has been in decline, mostly because of foot root disease, and because of CAP (Common Agriculutral Policy) reform and large import of sheep and sheep meat from New Zealand and Australia. Production and consumption of sheep meat in Croatia have also been in decline mostly because of the Homeland war in which the number of sheep was cut by half. According to statistical data from 2009, the number of sheep from 1991 has still not been reached. As well as in other Mediterranean countries, in Croatia it is also popular to slaughter suckling lambs which are consumed in one peace or chopped in 2-4 pieces. Two best known traditional cured sheep meat are kastradina andstelja, none of which is protected