The role of information in meat sheep production

Abstract

This essay presents reflections on the importance of information to lamb supply chain, on the challenges exacerbated by information asymmetry and on some initiatives to mitigate the problem. Meat sheep industry still suffers from a lack of organization and communication between segments. Breeders who are aware about the need of adopting a business view are seeking for assistance and information, but many breeders are not. This situation is related to the difficulties of information diffusion, due to the scarcity of extension agents and professionals in sheep breeding. Access to information does not constitute an entry barrier for initiating the activity, but the lack of technical knowledge can be an obstacle to its viability. There is need to improve management process in production and marketing of animals. There is also limited data regarding production cost and marketing prices of lamb meat. The communication channels in the agroindustrial system are not efficient, and there are barriers when producers seek information such as prices. Thus, conditions must be provided to propagate in a clear and objective way the details of the sheep husbandry chain.