ORGANIC DAIRY SHEEP FARMS IN SIBIU COUNTY, ROMANIA: TYPOLOGIES ACCORDING TO LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT

The purpose of this paper is to define the typology of organic farms breeding sheep. Literature was consulted and statistical data were collected from Eurostat sites, M.A.D.R., Department for Agriculture and Rural Development from Sibiu county. Representatives of Association like Eco Miorita of village Vurpar, Sibiu county were contacted. During February-March 2015 we conducted a survey of 28 organic sheep breeders. We developed a questionnaire containing 55 items, which was operated by a single interviewer. The data contained in the questionnaire focused on work history, herd sheep, land farmed, organic crop structure, membership of an association profile, year of recording as an ecological operator, advantages and disadvantages identified in the certification as organic producers, difficulties encountered in the certification process, the rules for information on certification as organic producers, information about inspection and certification body, the value of the annual cost of organic production certificate, the age of the head of the farm, last school graduated, labor in the household, type of shelter used, breeding technology, yields obtained and method of valorization, European funds to develop the farm, the farmer's future intentions. The results show that 79% of farmers have between 50-400 sheep and operate an average area of pasture approx. 32 ha. Average number of sheep owned by the 28 farms is 361 heads. The average age of the head of the holding is 46 years. All of farmers which are head of the husbandry have completed a course in animal breeding farms. All breeders are part of a profile association, and the investment in the farm was made only on the basis of own funds. The breeding system is the extensive one, during the summer sheep are kept exclusively on pastures and in winter they are staying in shelters that meet animal welfare. Sheep density during grazing is 6.5 heads / ha, practicing a rational grazing and shelter density is 1,5mp / head. The sheep are local breeds and are exploited towards milk production. The milk is sold to ecological processors. Average milk production is 501 / head / lactation.