Ways to have good economic results in Montmorillonnais's extensive sheep farms

摘要

This study demonstrates the special character of extensive farms located in the midst of large meat sheep farms in Montmorillonnais (an unfavorised zone south of Vienne, France). Characteristic production systems are found in this region, from extensive (with a stocking rate of less than 0.85 LU-ha~(-1) PFS) to intensive (1.40 LU-ha~(-1) PFS). There are large differences between these systems, even between the various extensive systems among which two sub-groups can be distinguished. The first include extremely autonomous extensive specialists and second are extremely extensive systems with crops. Some intensive farmers make a decent net income as do some grazers and specialised extensive farmers. The three essential factors are the margin per ewe, the work productivity and the infrastructure costs. On extensive farms, the best results are found for moderate numerical productivity (1.15-1.30 lamb per ewe), which make maximal use of grazing and minimal amount of input. The animals spend more time in pasture, reducing the amount of hay needing to, be harvested. Some extensive farms obtain good results on small usable agricultural area if they have a high degree of forage autonomy and if their infrastructure costs are limited.