Technical efficiency of meat

Technical efficiency of meat sheep production systems in 1 Spain 2 3 J.P. Pérez, J.M. Gil , I. Sierra 4 5 a Dpto. Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad de 6 Zaragoza, Miguel Servet, 177, 50013-Zaragoza, Spain 7 b CREDA-UPC-IRTA. Edifici ESAB – Campus del Baix Llobregat 8 Av. del Canal Olimpic, s/n, 08860-Castelldefels (Barcelona, Spain) 9 10 11 Abstract 12 The technical efficiency of sheep results in one of the most important sheep producing 13 regions in Spain has been assessed. The methodology is based on a survey from 14 representative farms (in terms of the existing alternative production systems) within the 15 region. Results indicate that the best farms, in terms of technical efficiency, are obtained 16 by extreme situations: either by extensive and well-managed farms, without pens and 17 one lambing per year (lower production but well adapted to the seasonality of prices and 18 more reduced costs), or by well managed farms with prolific ewes. Thus, maximum 19 efficiency is determined not so much by the production system as by the technical and 20 economic management to accommodate the specific circumstances of each farm. 21