Sheep production chain in Rio Grande do Sul: a descriptive study

Abstract

The sheep farming is a major activity undertaken in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The studies and researches that define the production chains structure, especially those linked to the chain of lamb production, are still very limited. The objective of this study was to describe the chain of sheep production in Rio Grande do Sul in order to characterize each link of the production process and identify strengths and limitations of the activity. This research followed the list of studies based on developed theories for delineation of agro-industrial chains. The research focused on the production of the southern half of Rio Grande do Sul. There were applied semi-structured interviews with key members of the sheep chain, and used participant observation. The sheep productive chain industry is targeted in input links, sheep production, industrial processing of meat and wool, distribution/retail and final consumer. It was evident and significant the lamb entry coming from Uruguay. The imported meat competes directly with the lamb of Rio Grande do Sul. The main markets are restaurants and supermarkets in southeastern Brazil. The structure presented shows that actions aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the chain must pay attention to the quality of animals, the cut diversification and marketing strategies. Researches that will investigate consumer preferences and strategies aim to raise the consumption and could complement this study bringing important elements for the consolidation of the lamb market.