SheepNet: a thematic network to improve sheep productivity across EU and Turkey

SheepNet is an EU funded project focusing on sheep productivity and involves the 6 main EU sheep producing countries (Ireland, France, United Kingdom, Romania, Spain, Italy) and Turkey.

SheepNet: a thematic network to improve sheep productivity across EU and Turkey

During the past three years, SheepNet has shared knowledge on sheep productivity, thanks to a multi-actor approach. All the work undertaken has been driven by the expressed needs of end-users and are available on the SheepNet website (www.sheepnet.network). The 3 year SheepNet project concluded recently in October 2019.

SheepNet:

1. involved 7 countries (France, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Spain, Turkey and United Kingdom) representing 80% of the EU sheep production.
2. held 34 national and 5 EU transnational workshops/conferences.
3. described 19 sheep rearing systems across EU and Turkey
4. collected 461 stakeholder questions/needs to improve sheep productivity and answered them with:

• 42 solutions and 29 were evaluated on commercial farms
• 73 tips and tricks
• 22 factsheets
• 3,458 Scientific articles analysed
• 19 new research needs identified

Sheep farming is present in most EU countries. There are 830,000 farms and 85 million sheep in Europe and 127,000 farms and 31 million sheep in Turkey. However, the EU sheep flock has declined by 15% since 2000 reaching a critical threshold in some regions for the "survival" of the industry. While the decline in sheep and producer numbers is due to a number of factors the main reason is low profitability due to low sheep productivity (number of lambs produced/ewe joined) which has not improved in many regions in the last 30 years.

 SheepNet, a thematic network (grant agreement N°727895) was set up to improve sheep productivity (number of lambs reared per ewe joined) across the EU, thus improving the profitability and attractiveness of the sheep sector. SheepNet involved the 6 main EU sheep producing countries (Ireland, France, United Kingdom, Romania, Spain, Italy) and Turkey. Many scientific and practical/innovative solutions already exist at local and national level but they are not widely transferred at the EU level or they need to be adapted to specific livestock farming systems. The overall aim of SheepNet was to share knowledge between stakeholders to improve sheep productivity across Europe. SheepNet started in November 2016 and ended in October 2019. The final Irish seminar was held recently in Athenry. 

SheepNet is based on a multi-actor and transdisciplinary approach involving researchers, farmers and all stakeholders of the sheep sector. During the 3 years of the project, SheepNet has followed a 5 step programme. Each step has been formalised by a transnational workshop in one of the SheepNet partner countries which provided a great opportunity to share knowledge within and between SheepNet countries. 

Initially an EU wide survey was undertaken to identify the main needs/issues of stakeholders to improving sheep productivity (reproduction efficiency, gestation efficiency, reduce lamb mortality). The main needs identified related to nutrition management, animal health management, and lamb vigour and immunity at birth. In parallel, a comparison of EU sheep productivity was completed which showed huge variability amongst countries and systems within countries. Ewe productivity ranged from 0.5 to 2.5 lambs reared per ewe joined, clearly illustrating the scope for improvement by most producers.  

The second step has focussed on identifying solutions to address the stakeholder needs. SheepNet identified 42 solutions (best practices). Researchers involved in the programme undertook a review of the literature related to sheep productivity (reproduction, gestation and lamb survival) and produced 22 factsheets and three briefing papers (Improving communication and technology transfer; Support network for effective thematic networks; Support innovations and technologies for the sheep sector).

The third step has focused on how to facilitate the implementation of solutions. SheepNet collected and shared 73 tips and tricks, proposed by stakeholders for stakeholders. The fourth step identified existing means of communication and knowledge transfer. The results indicated that a large number of means of communication already exist for disseminating awareness, methodologies to demonstrate and implement solutions. Stakeholders also proposed new ways of communication such as using computer simulations to illustrate an innovative technique; social media to share information and knowledge updates and specific training programmes for schools and colleges. Nevertheless, the use of all existing means of communication is the basis for an efficient dissemination.  

The final step of SheepNet involved collecting feedback from end-users who tested SheepNet solutions. All of the tested solutions were well appreciated, easy to implement and were beneficial. Finally, scientists in collaboration with stakeholders have identified 19 new research areas to address unanswered needs identified in Step 1 of the project. 

In summary SheepNet:

1. involved 7 countries (France, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Spain, Turkey and United Kingdom) representing 80% of the EU sheep population
2. held 34 national and 5 EU transnational workshops described 19 sheep rearing systems across the EU and Turkey
3. collected 461 stakeholder questions on sheep productivity and addressed these with:

• 42 solutions,  29 of which were evaluated
• 73 ‘tips and tricks’
• 21 factsheets
• 3,458 scientific articles analysed
• 19 new research needs identified

All results from SheepNet are available on www.sheepnet.network.  

EuroSheep is a new thematic network on the sheep sector, which will start in January 2020 and will follow on the work undertaken by SheepNet. EuroSheep will focus on animal nutrition and health from birth to slaughter in sheep meat, and from birth to first lactation in sheep milk production.