El papel de la gestión cooperativa en la mejora del funcionamiento técnico-económico de explotaciones ovinas

Sheep farms in SW Spain have been exposed to various pressures derived from changes in the consumption patterns and policy changes linked to several reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy in the last years, which has translated into the abandonment of the farm activity or the intensification process for those farms which have continued in the sector. These systems, however, are extremely fragile, as well as they have a key role in providing environmental services. In this context, we have analyzed a sample of 101 sheep farms belonging to cooperatives and located in Spain SW. Technical and economic indicators related to farm management have been studied. It is noted that the integration of farms into cooperatives can improve farm structure and ensure their persistence, due to the provision of additional services to the farmer, the generation of an added value and an increased price stability.