RDP project database
Free Range Sheep Breeding in an Environmentally Friendly Manner
Summary
This income generating project provides assistance to a university professor and part-time farmer in Somogy to breed rare species of sheep (including moufflons) in environmentally-friendly ways.
Background
The beneficiary has received agri-environmental support under the "grassland management initiative", which aims at encouraging producers of agricultural lands to adopt farming and production methods that are compatible with the sustainable use of environment, landscape, and natural resources and with the preservation of genetic resources.
Objective
The project aim is to contribute to the sustainable use of agricultural land, and in particular to sustainable grassland management practices in order to preserve local natural resources.
Main activities
The farmer uses specific environmental friendly techniques in the sheep breading activity. In addition he produces organic meat of high-quality due to the special free range farming techniques. Further, the producer serves a niche-market, as as he does not sell his produce in the most popular periods of lamb-consumption (such as Easter or Christmas), but adjusts the period of gestation and calving to natural circumstances.
Results & Benefits
Support received complements other incomes of the farmer. The activities of the farmer have direct benefits to his wider environment, as they contribute to diversity and protection of local natural heritage. Diversity is achieved through breeding species (mostly sheep) that is declining (as well as breeding rare species such as moufflons). Environmental protection is achieved through use of environmentally friendly free range techniques that highly comply with local natural conditions.
Lessons learnt
The farm of Artur Horn and his family is a very good example of livestock farming that takes full account of the ecological diversity and conditions of the local area. It shows how local producers can operate farms in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner, through being innovative, creative, and most of all committed to their own area.
Project location and other information
Somogy
Region
Somogy
RDP Territory
Hungary
Total project cost (€)
18 600
Contact name
ENRD Contact Point
At a glance
Country
Hungary
Final beneficiary type
Individual farmers
Budget range
< €20 000
Start date:
01/01/2009
Theme / Measure:
• Environment and Sustainable Resource Management
• Sustainable use of agricultural land
• 214. Agri-environment payments
Keywords:
Animal welfare, Sheep, Livestock
Last update
21/02/2012
