The aim of the study was to analyse the economic efficiency of farms enrolled in the sheep genetic resources conservation programme. The study involved 65 farms participating in the conservation programme in Subcarpathia, Podlasie and Lower Silesia regions in the years 2011-2013. Payments to conserve local sheep breeds are an incentive for producers of fattened lambs to maintain these breeds. These payments caused the income of analysed farms to increase by 128.23% on average.