The mix of species within farms contributes to secure and regularise the supply of the sector

National audience; In the current context of increasing uncertainties and incentives for agro-ecological transition, the mixing of animalspecies within farms is one of the solutions put forward. Studies have shown that the combination of sheep andsuckler cattle on a farm makes it possible to make better use of resources, secure income and diversify work. Butfew studies have considered the sector scale. The purpose of this communication is to show that the mix of speciescan also be of interest to the sectors. On-farm (37) and online (105) surveys of mixed sheep and cattle farms andspecialised suckler sheep farms in the northern Massif Central were carried out. We showed that to adapt their farmto climatic, economic and workforce-related hazards, farmers used mechanisms related to the combination of thetwo species: modifying the ewe/cow ratio, breeding periods, worker versatility, grazing management and allocationof resources between species. The first lesson of this study is that, by adapting to different types of hazards, mixedfarming systems contribute to the security of supply of lambs in the sector. We have also highlighted three profilesof lamb sales on farms: the first corresponding to sales spread over 5 to 7 months centred on the summer, the secondwith sales spread over 8 to 12 months and the last with sales over short periods (2 to 4 months) outside the summer.The first profile seems to be more specific to mixed farms. These sales profiles are complementary at the yearly scale,in particular because the first profile, found essentially on mixed farms, allows for the supply of lambs in the summerat a time when fewer farms in the other profiles are supplying them. This complementarity of sales profiles can beobserved among all the operators. Thus, the second lesson of this study is the interest of mixed farming systems forthe regularity of the supply of lambs to the sector.