A quality-based system for differentiated payment of ovine milk in Tuscany

In Tuscany (Italy) the sheep dairy sector is broadly developed; milk price fluctuations represent a critical point in the difficult relationships between farmers and cheese factories. The aim of the study was to define a quality-based system for differentiated payment of sheep milk in Tuscany. Fat and protein contents (%) values, collected from 2008 through 2011, and belonged to 11 dairy factories were employed for a total of 19,782 analysed samples. Means, weighted over the milk quantity in the farm tank at the sampling time, for fat (X) and protein (Y) contents were computed. For both parameters (fat and protein), starting from the mean X and Y values, one neutral class and 4 awarding and 4 penalising classes have been hypothesized with an increasing/decreasing of 0,3% for fat and 0,2% for protein. The adoption of such system all over Tuscany could represent a challenge for farmers to increase their breeding and productive standards.