The old saying “who buys sheep, loses money” seems to no longer hold true. In fact, it may be more accurate to say that those who raise sheep are now able to make a decent living, even if it’s not a fortune, as Zoran Kaćanski, a shepherd from Futog, shared with Dnevnik Ovcar.
According to Kaćanski, shepherds in Serbia now receive government incentives of 10,000 dinars for every sheep that lambs and an additional 2,000 dinars for each lamb delivered to the slaughterhouse. These financial incentives are enough to sustain a comfortable living and to improve sheep farming practices. After deducting expenses for services related to sheep care, Kaćanski says that around 6,000 to 7,000 dinars per lamb remain, which he considers a fair amount.
Kaćanski, who has been involved in sheep farming for decades, raises Wittenberg sheep for meat and breeding purposes. He sells rams across Vojvodina and imports genetic material from shepherds throughout Serbia. However, he no longer has a market for wool, which he now discards as waste. In the past, the income from wool covered the cost of shearing sheep, which now costs him 600 dinars per head.
“I was considering using unwashed wool for thermal insulation in the attic,” Kaćanski says. “It’s said to be resistant to pests due to its strong smell and is a good heat insulator. I haven’t tried it yet, but I plan to.”
The shepherds have faced numerous challenges in recent years, with drought being the most pressing issue. This year, the harvest was particularly tough due to low corn yields and poor grazing conditions. Shepherds across Serbia have felt the effects of climate change, struggling to secure enough food for the winter, which has become more expensive.
Kaćanski regularly exhibits his sheep at the Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad, where he has won several medals, cups and awards for his herd. When evaluating sheep, judges look for qualities such as a long body, straight back, clean legs, and a strong head, all of which contribute to the overall appearance and health of the animal.
To maintain his sheep, Kaćanski ensures they receive a mix of food, including concentrate like maize, barley, and oats, a portion of which he buys due to poor crop yields this year. As lambing season approaches in January, he gives his sheep stronger food to help them lamb more easily. Kaćanski has stopped breeding sheep more than once a year, as it was too taxing on the animals and resulted in them being thinner. Now, he keeps the sheep indoors year-round, as opposed to letting them graze outside as he used to.
Kaćanski also shares the market prices for sheep and lambs: a kilogram of live weight for lambs costs 600 dinars, while mutton ranging from 8 to 13 kilograms goes for 600 euros. The live weight of mutton is priced at 250 dinars. While there is a demand for sheep meat, especially during the Kupusijada in Futog, Kaćanski notes that most shepherds prefer to keep their sheep for breeding and reproductive purposes rather than selling them for meat.
One of the most encouraging aspects for Kaćanski is that his family may continue the sheep farming tradition. His son is interested in taking over the business, and his grandchildren, especially his 12-year-old granddaughter, enjoy helping with the sheep. She already knows how to strengthen a sheep, showing that the future of Kaćanski’s farm is in good hands.
