Organic sheep farming as a factor of ecology and biodiversity conservation

Abstract

In the opinion of many authors (Van Dieoen et al., 2007; Petrović et al 2016, 2017, Yilmaz et al., 2016), the current state-of-the-art technology of farm systems in livestock breeding represents an obvious risk to biodiversity and its ecological sustainability. On the other hand, despite this conclusion, the consumption of meat and milk is growing. The growing knowledge of ecosystem disorders and the threat of the living world in its entirety imposed a need to re-examine the technologies and methods so far that have been used to accelerate productive growth in all human activities, including agriculture. It began to study the influence of various external factors on animal productivity (Petrović I sar, 2011, 2015). Rodrigez et al (2017) launched a project that will assess the sustainability of the various European sheep production systems, focusing on the ecological aspect of animal welfare and the nutritional value of lamb. Preservation of native races for use in organic systems is important and can stop the extinction of races. Unique characteristics of domestic breeds can help farmers and scientists to preserve biodiversity and ecology in the future (Nauta, 2006, Petrović et al., 2013).