LAUSR

With the objective to evaluate the degree of competitiveness and comparative advantage of local lamb production systems, a sample of  139 sheep producers were interviewed, and six herds of three production systems were under observation for 7 mo in the Libres region of Puebla, Mexico. Information was recorded on costs, infrastructure, agricultural activity, labor, production and sale of sheep. The profitability and competitiveness was determined with the Policy Analysis Matrix. The system of production on feeding indoors was the most profitable and competitive according to the Index of Private Profitability, Private Cost Ratio, Private Profitability Ratio and Private Cost-Benefit Ratio. The cost of the factors of production was higher in the lamb grazing system, being of the less competitive. The Social Cost-Benefit Ratio (CSBR) indicated inefficiency of systems to replace imports. The production of sheep had an oligopsonic market structure due to institutional deficiencies and absence of protection policies oriented to this sector. The producers used as the criterion of sale the mature weight, although the sale of the lambs began between 30 and 90 d old. It is advisable to perform an analysis of the production function, to determine the viability of the sale of weaned lambs as an option to increase the profits of the producers and the competitiveness of these systems.