Abstract
Revisiting the theoretical contributions of the new economic sociology and its main contributions to the study of the markets, this article aims to reflect on alternative ways of understanding the nature and functioning of sheep markets in the family livestock of Rio Grande do Sul, which is historically linked to the creation of ovine species. In this way, a theoretical essay was presented on the main theoretical-methodological perspectives currently used in the study of sheep markets, their contributions and limitations, and in addition, propositions are presented for the study of the sheep industry markets on family livestock from the recomendations found in the approach of the new economic sociology. Considerations about the potential of this approach with regard to the elaboration of a typology for those markets are presented, including the understanding of the process of social construction.
Key-words:
sheep production; family livestock; markets; New Economic Sociology