Non–intensive dairy farming systems in Mediterranean basin: Trends and limitations

This paper attempts to give an overview of the practiced non–intensive specialized dairy cow, buffalo, sheep and goat farming systems in contemporary Mediterranean agriculture, and to underline their characteristics, potentials, limitations and their current and future trends. This type of farming is an economically viable operation of significant socio-economic importance for the Mediterranean countries and therefore support measures should be taken for a more balanced approach to rural development taking into account the broad spectrum of social, cultural and educational needs of the farming communities.