Work flexibility of organic suckler sheep farms in France

Summary

Labour influences the liveability of organic sheep farms and the sustainability of this activity on rural areas. The aim of this study was to analyse work flexibility of organic suckler sheep farms using the criterion 'room for manoeuvre in time'. A survey about work organisation was conducted on 14 organic sheep farms in the central region of France to quantify work durations and tasks carried out by different categories of workers in order to calculate the room for manoeuvre in time. Statistical analysis was performed to analyse variability in room for manoeuvre. A cluster analysis conducted on four variables describing room for manoeuvre in time over the year classified the farms into three groups. The results show that the room for manoeuvre in time per person displayed a broad variability according to the farms (396 to 1,199 h per year). The amount of routine work per person of the basic group was one factor explaining the differences. Results show different ways to obtain room for manoeuvre in time and its temporal distribution over the year, among organic suckler sheep farms. Three repartitions were identified. Group 1 was characterised by a low room for manoeuvre in winter, corresponding to the period of lambing in the sheep barn. The high routine workload was carried out self-sufficiently by the basic group. Group 2 had a high room for manoeuvre over the year. The farmers delegated a part of the routine work during holidays. Group 3 had a low room for manoeuvre over the year. These farms had lambings throughout the year due to several different lambing periods. Their low room for manoeuvre was also explained by a farmer's dual jobholding or by diversification of farm activities (slaughter, direct sales). The paper concludes identifying potential labour solutions to increase the flexibility of work organisation such as simplification of flock management or delegation.