SHEEP PRODUCTION AS AN ELEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS

The aim of this study was to evaluate individual farms which predominantly dealt with crop production, but also kept sheep. Information about the farms’ cash flow was collected by way of direct interviews with the owners of the farms. The cash flow analysis revealed problems with liquidity. Therefore, it was necessary for some farms to have financial resources available for periods of negative financial flows or to be able to sell farm products. The national sheep industry which focuses on the production of lambs for slaughter, gives the opportunity to improve revenue. This was especially necessary in the second quarter, in which a lack of liquidity was observed. The share of income from sheep production in total revenues ranged from 19 to 50%, and proved that keeping sheep as a supplementary activity was beneficial