2. Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU

La pandemia Covid-19 ha motivado la adopción de medidas excepcionales en todo el mundo, a efectos de limitar los contagios y el colapso de los sistemas sanitarios. El cierre de comercios y otras actividades consideradas no esenciales, o las limitaciones al movimiento, ha generado un impacto económico en el sector de los pequeños rumiantes, poniendo de manifiesto la necesidad del profesional veterinario de disponer de las competencias necesarias para valorar económicamente el impacto de las enfermedades en los colectivos. Este trabajo analiza, en primer lugar, la formación en economía que reciben los estudiantes del Grado de Veterinaria en las diferentes facultades españolas, comparándola con la que reciben los estudiantes en el Grado de Ingeniería Agrícola. En segundo lugar, se ha diseñado una encuesta para egresados y estudiantes de último curso de veterinaria, en referencia a este tipo de competencias, su aplicación en la sanidad animal y su repercusión en el desempeño profesional. Los datos evidencian que el tiempo empleado para adquirir las competencias en economía de los veterinarios es menor (3-6 créditos en 5 años) que el que disponen los ingenieros agrícolas (12 créditos en 4 años). Los resultados de la encuesta revelan que, si bien se registran diferencias significativas cuantitativamente entre egresados y estudiantes, ambos grupos coinciden en la escasa formación recibida para valorar el impacto de las enfermedades en los colectivos, así como en la necesidad de formarse en aspectos de gestión económica una vez finalizados sus estudios de grado para el desempeño de su labor profesional, competencias que deberían ser reforzadas en el grado. Entre los egresados, la opinión es similar, independientemente de los años de desempeño profesional.

The human pandemic COVID-19 caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) started in China in 2019 and has rapidly spread around the world, leading to extreme control measures such as population confinement and industry activity closure. Although small ruminants are not sanitary a ected by this virus, the short-term economic impact derived by COVID-19 on Spanish flocks is estimated in this study, using data provided by producers and two major slaughterhouses. Milk prices of dairy goat flocks su ered a substantial drop in April 2020, close to 4.5 cts EUR/liter compared to the previous month. In contrast, the monthly milk prices in sheep remained almost stable during this period, and even increases of more than EUR 6 cts were reported in comparison with the previous year. Nevertheless, economical di erences are reported by areas where producers could receive a higher income, close to EUR 0.3 per liter of milk. Global data provided by feedlots a ecting 2750 Spanish flocks evidenced a lamb price drop ranging from 16.8% to 26.9% after the pandemic arrival; in line with the data directly reported by a limited sample of producers (ranging from 11.0% to 23.7%). The goat kid meat market also su ered a reduction in prices per kg, near 12.5%; although, for some flocks, losses reached up to 40%. In the same line, 2 slaughterhouses reported a sudden sacrifice drop around 27% for lambs and goat kids sacrifices in April, in contrast with the usual sacrifice figures from the beginning of 2020. Moreover, our study showed a temporary and unexpected retention of lambs and goat kids at farms due to a reduction in animals slaughtered during this period. In conclusion, data evidenced a considerable negative economic impact on Spanish small ruminant flocks, throughout the first 60 days after COVID-19’s pandemic declaration. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term economic consequences, in order to establish contingency plans and avoid the collapse of small ruminant industries when a crisis of these characteristics occurs.

O cial milk prices in the Spanish small ruminant sector were used for 5 years (2015–2019) to analyze the e ect caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis in 2020. Meat price fluctuations were also studied using the weekly prices o cially provided by some of the main agrarian markets of the country (n = 6) in 2019 and 2020. Moreover, the sales and prices of three protected geographical indications (PGI) of lamb meat served to study the marketability when the products are sold or not under these quality labels in a crisis context. According to Spanish Government’s o cial communications, 2020 was divided in three periods of study (pre-COVID-19, total confinement and post-confinement). The evolution of employment in this subsector in 2020, as a direct consequence of this crisis, was also analyzed considering data provided by producers. Results showed an intra-annual seasonal e ect for milk prices in 2020 for both livestock species, as observed in previous years. However, a negative economic impact on goat milk prices due to the pandemic was checked during the confinement and post-confinement months. Sheep milk prices remained stable. Lamb and goat kid meat prices showed a similar trend in comparison with 2019 during the pre-COVID-19 period. The total confinement period recorded a short interval of 1–2 weeks in which the prices declined, before the suspension of quotations in many markets. In contrast, once confinement was completed, meat prices for both ruminant species rapidly reached levels that existed before the coronavirus crisis. Overall data suggested the protective e ect of the PGI marks on lamb meat. Lambs with a PGI had better 2020 prices than non-PGI lambs (+8%), regardless of the period analyzed. Moreover, with fewer lambs sold in 2020, there was a relevant drop in sales of non-PGI lambs vs. PGI (􀀀19% vs. 􀀀2%) during the first 7 months. Finally, there was little or no readjustment of the workforce in the small ruminant flocks.