Overview
- Thuringia’s sheep population has fallen by half over the past three decades and now stands at about 100,300.
- Only seven apprentices are currently enrolled across all three training years, well below the 20–25 needed annually to replace retiring shepherds.
- A majority of active shepherds are over the age of 50, raising concerns of a widening generational gap in the profession.
- Shepherds derive around 60 percent of their income from landscape grazing services, which they say are underpaid.
- Thuringia lacks the long-term grazing contracts found in Brandenburg and faces minimal wool markets confined to niche uses.