UNIVERSITY OF MONTENEGRO Biotechnical Faculty Podgorica, Montenegro STATUS AND TRENDS OF SHEEP PRODUCTION IN THE DURMITOR AREA Božidarka Marković, Milena Đokić, Dragana Drobnjak, Milan Marković International Conference: Sustainable development of mountain areas - Experiences, challenges and perspectives Žabljak, September 14-16, 2016 Montenegro
DURMITOR AREA today: the territory of municipalities: Žabljak, Plužine and Šavnik. Area includes : - the mountains: Maglić, Volujak, Durmitor, Piva mountains and Sinjavina. - river canyons: Tara, Piva, Komarnica, Susica, Draga, Bukovica. -plateaus: Jezerski, Pivski, Drobnjacki. Altitude ranges from 450 meters in mouth of river Piva and Tara up to 2522 meters Durmitor highest pik. Climate: Mostly sub-mountainous and mountainous climate
The territory of municipalities and agricultural land Žabljak Plužine Šavnik TOTAL Total area, ha 44500 85400 55300 185200 Total agricul. land, ha 21498 19709 32185 73375 (40%) Used agricul. Land, ha Agric. census 2010 7480 23186 6506 37172 (20%) 98% of agricultural land are grasslands (1/3) and pastures (2/3).
Sheep production on the Durmitor area was one of the main economic activities and the main source of income for the majority of rural households. To rear a flock of sheep meant security for family and an indicator of wealth of households. The aim of this paper is to get insight into the recent changes of the sheep production in the wider area of Durmitor massif.
Trends in sheep population size of Durmitor area Year MNE total Durmitor area % of MNE 1930 516775 62783 12,1 1939 669478 88741 13,3 1945 288865 38000 13,2 1950 510409 66452 13,0 800000 1953 534496 70977 13,3 1960 640000 71400 11,2 1965 553250 67706 12,2 700000 600000 500000 400000 1970 559350 77919 13,9 300000 1975 513729 89035 17,3 1980 504309 96475 19,1 1985 480639 83736 17,4 200000 100000 0 1990 487509 87565 18,0 MNE Durmitor 1995 430847 75766 17,6 2000 305707 48003 15,7 2005 225318 29945 13,3 2010 180228 20331 11,3 2014 204403 22410 11,0
Trends in sheep population size of the three municipalities Municip. 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2012 Zabljak 16863 15817 17478 18267 20003 21105 18462 5938 5834 3277 6742 Pluzine 30850 36381 48451 57153 45186 45528 38581 27578 13027 9111 7467 Savnik 19993 25721 23106 21055 18547 20932 18723 14487 11084 7943 8201 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 Zabljak Pluzine Savnik 40 20 0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2012
The structure of agricultural holdings in municipalities of Durmitor area (results of agricultural census 2010) 140 120 123 107 100 86 80 72 60 40 20 53 29 Number of agricult. holdings Holdings with sheep 0 Zabljak Pluzine Savnin
The characteristics of sheep production in Durmitor area A production system has been slightly changed from very extensive to semi extensive or semi intensive one. The main products: meat (lamb) and milk (dairy products) In the past meat : dairy products : wool = 60:30:10 Today meat : dairy products = 75:25 Feeding of sheep is primarily based on grazing (7 months), with seasonal moving to mountains pastures (katuns), During wintertime (housing period) hay is the main feedstuff. In the past: usual practice was to provide 300 kg hay/head/year, Nowdays feeding is improved: - up to 450 kg of hay/head/year and - supplemented by grain during lambing season (15-30kg/head).
Structure of agricultural / livestock holdings that use katuns in Durmitor area (according to data of subsidies for use mountain pastures in 2015) 700 641 600 540 500 467 400 300 200 213 188 100 95 0 Zabljak Pluzine Savnik Agricult. holdings use Katuns Holdings with sheep Subsidies for use mountain pastures / KATUNs is 9 euro/lu
Subsidies for sheep production - provided through direct payment in agriculture - 9 euro / head - limit is 40 animals Number of households eligible for subsidies in sheep production In Durmitor area Number of holdings Total number of animals Average animals / holding Pluzine 87 7993 91.8 Savnik 86 8566 99.6 Zabljak 36 3810 105 Total Durmitor 210 20369 97 MNE 1094 101897 93.1 20%
Breed structure of sheep population in Durmitor area in the past: the only autochthonous sheep breed Pivska (jezerska) pramenka, today: different crosses and other breeds (Sjenička breed, mostly) made 2/3 of sheep population. Pivska pramenka and /or Jezerska pramenka autochthonous breed originated from Durmitor area, well adapted to severe climate condition well resistant to diseases the most important sheep genetic resources
Status of Pivska pramenka breed as important genetic resources Population size of purebred Pivska pramenka permanently decrease, due to: - Decreasing trend of total sheep population in Montenegro - uncontrolled crossing with other breeds Estimated population size of purebred Pivska pramenka: Zabljak up to 1000 breeding animals Pluzine up to 700 animals Savnik up to 1500 breeding animals another municipalities up to 1500 animals Pivska pramenka included in program of in situ conservation of AnGR since 2008, but with a very small population coverage: - two flocks in Pluzine ( 170 animals) and - two flocks in Zabljak ( 200 animals). Subsidies for autochthonous breeds of sheep is 8/head/year, and maximum for 1000 animals
Changes in production traits of Pivska pramenka breed over time Due to positive changes in production system and implementation of the appropriate breeding and selection methods the production traits of this breed have been also improved Comparison of body measures of Pivska pramenka from three periods Body measures 1976-1980 (Adzic i Ljumovic 1987) 1987 1991 (Adzic et al. ) (2012-2015) Markovic et al. Height to Wither 66,3 a 69,9 b 71,7 c Body Length 66,2 a 69,3 b 70,7 c Chest Depth 31,1 a 28,2 b 32,2 c Chest Width 21,2 a 17,7 b 21,3 a Chest Circumferences 84,6 a 86,8 b 100,2 c Bone Circumference 7,6 a 8,1 b 9,0 c Body weight 51,4 a 56,7 b 71,6 c
Comparison of Pivska pramenka milk performances from three periods Item Ljumovic and Adzic 1988 Adzic I sar. 1992. Markovic et al. 2014 Milk Yield, kg 105,8 87,35 94,65 Duration of lactation, days 215,5 177.3 178,5 Daily milk yield, kg 0,490 0.493 0,53 Milk Fat, % 4,94 5.03 5,48 Protein, % 5.32 5.87 Lactoze, % 4.34 SNF, % 11.01 11.15 A percentage of twins has been increased from 10-15% to 30-40%,
The problems and difficulties Lack of labor force shepherds Milking of ewes has been decreasing, consequently less milk and dairy products is produced what reduces incomes from sheep Due to diseases losses are big Constant migration of the people from Durmitor region causes direct negative consequences to the sheep production Threat of losing of autochthonous breed and traditional products is present Perspectives Conservation, sustainable use and promotion autochtonous Pivska pramenka breed, Promotion of traditional products lamb meat and dairy products (skorup, cheese) Stronger support to this sector (through the direct support and rural development programs) in accordance to the EU way of support Much better respect and appreciation of the producer as the important providers of public goods (food, ecosystem services etc.) Better link of sheep production with tourism.