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Thuringia’s Schäfertag Highlights Shepherd Shortage and Declining Flocks

Underpaid grazing contracts are failing to attract the apprentices needed to maintain the region’s shrinking herds.

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.