Sheep and goat farming systems in Crete and overgrazing

Overgrazing is a problem that face most of the mountains areas of Crete caused by human interferences on sheep and goat farming systems. This problem may be attributed to bad management practices posed on animal breeding and their living environment. As regards extensive husbandry systems an abandonment of traditional practices has been observed, neglecting the rules, which were held on pasture. The animal density is much higher than the pasture capacity, especially in some mountainous areas, which in comparison with incorrect management and erroneous nutrition schemes often by providing big amounts of supplement to the animals leads to overgrazing. On the other hand, in areas where pastures are richer the same mistakes in animal husbandry and nutrition also lead to overgrazing.