EU funds to boost sheep farming in seven countries
SheepNet is a new EU-funded project aiming to increase sheep productivity (which is the combination of efficient reproduction, efficient gestation and reduced lamb mortality), involving the six main EU sheep-producing countries, and Turkey.
Solutions exist for many of the issues which negatively impact sheep productivity.
SheepNet will share these solutions by establishing durable exchange between scientists and stakeholders across EU.
Recently, each country held its first national workshop involving a wide range of stakeholders. The main challenges, issues, and needs influencing sheep productivity were discussed.
The first transnational workshop was held in Edinburgh involving participants, including farmers, from the seven countries. The consensus was that issues and problems influencing sheep productivity were similar across all countries.
SheepNet includes Ireland, France, the United Kingdom, Romania, Spain and Italy, and Turkey.
The number of sheep producers in the EU has declined by 50% since 2000, and sheep productivity is relatively low.
To reinforce the attractiveness of the sheep sector, it is necessary to increase the sheep productivity (which is the number of lambs reared, or the number of milking ewes per ewe joined).
An EU wide approach may have a stronger impact.
SheepNet will establish durable exchange of existing scientific and practical knowledge, and innovative and best practices and technologies which improve sheep productivity among farmers, advisors, consultants, researchers and other stakeholders.
Recently, the first Irish national workshop was held at Teagasc, Athenry.
A consensus of the meeting was that the three main issues influencing effective reproduction were the effects of ewe body condition score, nutrition/grassland management and flock health status.
At the first transnational workshop in Edinburgh, participants from the seven countries exchanged knowledge on production systems and issues influencing sheep productivity in their own countries.
The consensus of the meeting was that these were quite similar across all countries.
SheepNet is open to all EU countries, stakeholders, sheep producers.
Further information:
sheepnet.network and SheepNetEU on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin
