It is worthwhile to engage in sheep breeding, it will be in demand on the European market

By: STA Date: 2022. 12. 08. 09:20

There is a shortage of lamb meat on the European market and, according to forecasts, this will continue to be the case in the coming years; there will be a demand for lamb in the next period as well, which is why it is worth dealing with it – said the State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture (AM) responsible for agriculture and rural development at the handover of a sheep farm in Uszód, Bács-Kiskun county, on Thursday.

(Photo: Pixabay)

Mátyás Holló, the sheep breeder of the year in 2013, at the handover of the investment of his sheep farm in Usód, Zsolt Feldman added that the sector still sells 90 percent of its production on the export market, which means 550-600 thousand sheep, and it is an advantage that “we are not new actors in this market”. He spoke about the serious sectoral cooperation that has taken place in the sheep industry in recent years, and said that since 2019, the ministry has been trying to promote lamb meat on the domestic market, because successful exports can be built on strong domestic demand. The state secretary mentioned that this year’s weather was catastrophic for agriculture, especially for livestock keepers, due to the drought, which is why it is important to present positive examples.

Zsolt Feldman emphasized that technological renewal and development are also very important in this sector

The renovation of the Usód facility was also supported by a HUF 172.5 million government grant from the rural development program. He highlighted the forms of support that help the development of the sector, and said that the launch of the Renewable Countryside, Renewable Agriculture program opened up new dimensions for agriculture. Among the three main directions of support for the sheep industry, he mentioned technological developments; the recognition of the environmental added value of the activity and the increase of animal welfare, as well as the income-replacement support opportunities that generally help preserve food production potential in agriculture. The state secretary added that HUF 11 billion have already been awarded in the past two years for the renovation of more than 340 sheep farms. Mátyás Holló keeps more than a thousand sheep at his premises in Uzód, in addition to 800 ewes, 220 rams and 150 rams are raised.

MTI