Traditional extensive grazing systems in Southern Portugal relying exclusively on herdsmen
that live in permanence with the animals are in peril, since herdsman is the least attractive among
rural professions.
Recently, namely after the entry in the EEC in 1986, and taking advantage of the UE structural funds, infrastructures
aimed at extensive livestock production, such as fencing and water supply have been installed,
but still far way from covering the territory.
The paper aims to provide a systematic understanding of the changing characteristics of the herdsmen
profession and functions. It proposes a model framework to highlight the driving forces of the reported
changes, using a case study in South Alentejo (Portugal) as an illustration.
The results of a survey to 25 farms in the municipality of Ourique and inquiries to 37 employees working
with livestock show a mosaic of situations ranging from remnants of the traditional herdsman to another
type of worker, the so called polyvalent which is able to use the machinery and work in a more sophisticated
working environment. They are generally better paid and have living conditions closer to
other more urban professions, in some cases a working schedule and a free day per week
