PRODUCCIÓN DE LECHE OVINA COMO ALTERNATIVA DE NEGOCIO AGROPECUARIO: MODELO DE PRODUCCIÓN EN CASTILLA Y LEÓN (ESPAÑA)

Inside the fresh milk business, worldwide, milk sheep is the one that has less participation, lower than the cows and buffaloes. Still, in some regions like Castilla y León in Spain, the milk sheep production has a great economic importance, because it presents a production model and an advanced agroindustrial and besides, is an important alternative livestock business in disadvantaged rural areas. In this paper, it is described the milk sheep production from a global and national point-view. Also it is analyzed the milk sheep production in Castilla y León, Spain's biggest producing region, for it production systems and cooperation systems are described and there are also provided strategies and studies related to profitability in dairy sheep farms.