Spanish sheep co-operatives merge

04/06/2013
Two sheep- and goat-farming co-operatives in Spain, Oviso and Cordero del Sur, have amalgamated and will, together, form the largest group of its kind in Europe.

The combined group will involve 2,800 farmers in the regions of Extremadura and Andalusia, a total annual slaughter of 850,000 lambs and turnover of around EUR 75 million.

Rafael Crespo, a director of Cordero del Sur, said the merger was a logical step as sheep-farmers seek to “make the most of their assets” and to have “a higher profile”.