Análisis económico de sistemas de producción ovina para Puerto Rico

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to conduct an exploratory study about the sheep industry (Ovis aries) in Puerto Rico. The study was divided in two parts, first a questionnaire was done to 16 sheep producers, and a profile was created with all the collected data. In the second part, budget templates were prepared based on the three most common sheep production systems; extensive, semi-intensive and intensive. The profile showed that all interviewed producers were males, ranging in ages between 45 to 64 years, with higher education level than the average farmer in Puerto Rico. The farms averaged 19 cuerdas with less than 150 animals, most used improved pastures with feed supplementation. The intensive system presented the highest rate of return which was 72%. The intensive system also had the highest lambing, weaning and growing rates. With twice the quantity of lambs processed in slaughterhouse compared to the other systems.