Research on sheep feeding utilization in the region of Ioannina. First estimations of the last two years

The aim of this study is the sampling recording of the present situation of the dairy sheep farms of the Ioannina region, which supply with milk the Dodoni Dairy, and also to examine possible causes for the reduction of the milk production in the area for the Iast two years. This report comprises part of a more detailed study carried out from the group of Animal Scientists of Dodoni Dairy in the frame of the research program “PAVE ’97”. Consequently the results drawn at this moment would be better not to be generalized. For the collection of data from the sheep farmers of the region the technique of personal interview was used. In order to facilitate the procedure of interview a questionnaire was made, taking into account the relevant bibliography for ewe’s milk production. The fjnal sample was up to 700 of dairy sheep farmers of Epirus, from whom 30% comes from the prefecture of Ioannina. From the answers and the first analysis of the data important information is gathered in relation with the grazing and general with the nutrition, reproduction, housing conditions, milk production of the ewes but also for demographic and social data of the farmers.