Sheep Grazing Management in the Mountain Region: Serra da Estrela, Portugal

Abstract

Semi-natural Mediterranean pastures are an important resource in traditional systems of land use, namely in the Serra da Estrela region, located in the centre of mainland Portugal, where livestock activity is performed, mostly based in the dairy sheep farming. It is a region of rugged and mountainous relief, composed of shrub and herbaceous strata, usually associated with the sheep diet while they are grazing. These pastures take on some typologies, mainly in the mountain areas, including meadows, mesophille perennial Nardus grasslands and other perennial pastures of high ecological and scenic value. The floristic composition is predominantly composed of grasses (Poaceae), and legume (Fabaceae) species. The implementation of adequate cultivation techniques for the pasture management allows an increase in its productivity and nutritional value, resulting in increased stocking rate and reduced supplementation needs. In addition, these techniques promote the maintenance of biodiversity and landscape mosaic supporting the environment programmatic indications of the Common Agricultural Policy. Thus, the characteristics, potentialities and management practices of grasslands in the Serra da Estrela region are described, based on a literature review. This chapter aims to provide useful information, to the farmers who intend to make their pastures management more efficient while promoting environmental sustainability.

Added Value of Local Sheep Breeds in Alpine Agroecosystems

“…As can be seen in Figure 7, sheep, belonging to a single farm, could graze patches with high slopes and reduced accessibility, guaranteeing not only the maintenance of a certain type of landscape, but even a series of ES. Several studies demonstrated that a fragmented landscape prevents forest fire and protects natural habitat, plant and fauna species [33,67,68], such as the conservation of dung beetle diversity [69]. Therefore, this type of livestock system, on the one hand, conserves the genetic resources of local breeds and, on the other, maintains a mosaic landscape, as well as a high level of biodiversity, these giving added value to the system.…”

Occurrence and Distribution of Fasciolosis in a Cohort of Ovine Livestock Restricted to a Mountain Plateau in Central Portugal

“…This sheep breed is managed by the “National Association of Serra da Estrela Sheep breed” (ANCOSE) that assures geographical restraint to this region to maintain the breed status. As these animals are confined to this region, the assessment of their serological status can be a valuable tool to reflect the local circulation of diseases [ 16 , 17 ].…”

A 2-Year Longitudinal Seroepidemiological Evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in a Cohort of Autochthonous Sheep from Central Portugal

“…Despite its irregular pattern, rainfall occurs mainly between November and March. The National Association of Serra da Estrela Sheep Breed-ANCOSE-manages the autochthonous Serra da Estrela sheep, a breed with legislated protected origin that is solely bred in this region, with animals having little or no movement, thus providing a viable and detailed tool for animal disease surveillance in this region [13]. Only the Serra da Estrela autochthonous breed was selected for this study, given its geographical restriction to the region and mobility restraints (sheep are housed during the night and are allowed movement uniquely on the farm premises).…”

“…Only the Serra da Estrela autochthonous breed was selected for this study, given its geographical restriction to the region and mobility restraints (sheep are housed during the night and are allowed movement uniquely on the farm premises). Breeding of further domestic animal species is residual in this region and there is evidence for circulation of wild game in the territory [13].…”