Sheep in the Vineyard: First Insights into a New Integrated Crop–Livestock System in Central Europe

Nicolas Schoof, Anita Kirmer, Jakob Hörl, Rainer Luick, Sabine Tischew, Michael Breuer, Frank Fischer, Sandra Müller and Vivien von Königslöw
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Nicolas Schoof: Chair of Site Classification and Vegetation Science, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
Anita Kirmer: Nature Conservation and Landscape Planning, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, 06406 Bernburg, Germany
Jakob Hörl: Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Applied Forest Sciences Rottenburg, 72108 Rottenburg, Germany
Rainer Luick: Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Applied Forest Sciences Rottenburg, 72108 Rottenburg, Germany
Sabine Tischew: Nature Conservation and Landscape Planning, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, 06406 Bernburg, Germany
Michael Breuer: Chair of Biology, State Institute of Viticulture and Enology, 79100 Freiburg, Germany
Frank Fischer: Chair of Biology, State Institute of Viticulture and Enology, 79100 Freiburg, Germany
Sandra Müller: Chair of Geobotany, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
Vivien von Königslöw: Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-16

Abstract: The multiple land use of agricultural areas is a building block for increased land use efficiency. Unlike monoculture, integrated crop–livestock systems optimally improve ecosystem services, making it an important field of research and application for adapting land use and food systems that have sustainability deficits. The integration of sheep in viticulture production is described as a promising example of an integrated crop–livestock system. While some studies of the integration of sheep into vineyards are already available for other parts of the world, there is still no research on its implementation in Central European viticulture systems. In order to fill this gap of knowledge, we conducted standardized interviews with 34 winegrowers who already graze sheep in their vineyards. The method allowed a wider overview of the implementation of the integrated crop-livestock system than would have been possible with other approaches. Furthermore, the authors kept sheep in their own vineyard for three years to evaluate the statements of the survey participants. The period during which sheep graze in vineyards is quite heterogeneous in Central Europe. Some farms use sheep only during vine dormancy; others also let sheep graze during a certain period in summer. There are also viticulture training systems where grazing is almost continuously possible. In Central Europe, summer grazing normally requires operational adjustments such as lifting the wires of the training system and branches of the vine; otherwise, the vines could be damaged. This option seems to be tailored to the training system in use. Some interviewees mentioned that sheep not only use the accompanying vegetation as fodder and therefore control the undervine growth, but in some cases, they were also able to replace other work processes, such as defoliating the grape zone or cleaning undesired vine shoots near the ground. However, a high additional workload due to livestock keeping was also mentioned by some survey participants. Some of the interviewees cooperate with shepherds, which could help to solve this challenge. Finally, we summarize possible opportunities and risks of this integrated crop–livestock system. Integrating sheep in vineyards seems to be quite feasible in the period of vine dormancy, whereas more information and considerably more effort is needed to integrate sheep during the vegetation period. Further research is needed to answer open questions especially for the necessary adaptions of the common vine training system or the implementation of alternative systems more suitable to combine with livestock keeping. Some practitioners found opportunities to merchandize the use of sheep in wine sales. This potentially unique selling point could be a solution for a broader consideration of sheep in vineyards.

Keywords: multiple land use; sheep; vineyards; agroecology; sustainable intensification; expert survey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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