Objectives

To study and improve the sheep and goat production systems in the Mediterranean Region.

Origins

Since 1970, the activities of CIHEAM Zaragoza have involved the characterization and improvement of local Mediterranean breeds, the study of carcasses and the study and improvement of feeding systems. During the 1980s and at the beginning of the 1990s, part of these activities was carried out in collaboration with the AGRIMED programme of the DG VI and project under the CAMAR and AIR research programmes of the European Commission. Collaboration with the FAO (REU and RNE) started in the 1990s and since then the FAO has been supporting a co-operative research network on sheep and goats. In 1996, the collaboration between FAO-REU, FAO-RNE and CIHEAM became official upon the signature of an agreement to create a joint Network, under the framework of the European System of Cooperative Research Networks in Agriculture (ESCORENA). The Network collaborates actively with other international networks and institutions such as the EAAP. Since its creation, the Network has continued working, attracting new members oriented towards the most relevant research topics and challenges affecting small ruminant production systems.

Type of Action

• Exchange of information.
• Organization of periodic meetings and seminars (every two or three years).
• Working groups with common methodologies.
• Research projects.
• Training.

Contact Persons

Results and Impact

The results of the activities carried out within the framework of the Network on Sheep and Goats range from the more or less formal exchange of information to the development of large-scale research projects, as well as formal meetings and seminars and a large number of publications. Moreover, almost all the researchers working in small ruminants or pastures and forage crops in the Mediterranean Region participate in this network. There is also a very strong participation of experts from non-Mediterranean European countries, which ensures a very good connection with the European research centres.

A substantial number of scientific meetings and publications have been produced from the Network activities. Beyond the most immediate results, the contacts and relations created among the community of experts and researchers have fostered multiple collaborations in terms of training of students, joint activities among groups and centres, and development of joint research projects.

Past and upcoming activities

2nd Joint Seminar if the FAO-CIHEAM Networks on Mediterranean Pasture and Forage Crops and on Sheep and Goat Nutrition: “Alternative feed resources and their management for transiting towards a sustainable ruminant production” (Catania, Italy, 27-29 September 2022).

1^st Joint Meeting of the FAO-CIHEAM Networks on Sheep and Goats and Mediterranean Pastures and Forage Crops: “Efficiency and resilience of forage resources and small ruminant production to cope with global challenges in Mediterranean areas” (Meknes, Morocco, 23 to 25 October 2019) https://networks.iamz.ciheam.org/meknes2019/en/index.php

Joint Seminar of the FAO-CIHEAM Sub-Networks on Production Systems and Nutrition on Sheep and Goats: Innovation for Sustainability in Sheep and Goats. Vitoria, Spain, 3-5 October 2017.

Publications

Book of abstracts of the Joint Seminar of the Sub-networks on Sheep and Goat Nutrition and on Mediterranean Pastures and Forage Crops (Catania, Italy, 27-29 September 2022)

Hadjipavlou G. Ligda C. 2022. Addressing the challenges of agro-pastoral farming systems to strengthen their resilience. Options Méditerranéennes, Series A, 129. Zaragoza: CIHEAM, 2022. 121 p.

López-Francos A. Jouven M. Porqueddu C. Ben Salem H. Keli A. Araba A. Chentouf M. 2021. Efficiency and resilience of forage resources and small ruminant production to cope with global challenges in Mediterranean areas. Options Méditerranéennes, Series A, 125. Zaragoza: CIHEAM, 2021. 704 p. https://om.ciheam.org/option.php?IDOM=1038

Ruiz R. López-Francos A. López Marco L. 2019. Innovation for sustainability in sheep and goats. Options Méditerranéennes, Series A, 123. Zaragoza : CIHEAM, 2019. 490 p.

Napoléone M. Ben Salem H. Boutonnet J.P. López-Francos A. Gabiña D. 2016. The value chains of Mediterranean sheep and goat products. Organisation of the industry, marketing strategies, feeding and production systems. Options Méditerranéennes, Series A, A115. Zaragoza : CIHEAM, 2016. 705 p.

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