Sarda sheep
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The Sarda is an Italian breed of domestic sheep indigenous to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia.[1]Template:R/superscript It is raised throughout the island, in some regions of mainland Italy, and in some other Mediterranean countries, particularly Tunisia.
It is both the most economically significant and the most numerous Italian breed of sheep. It is the principal breed for production of sheep's milk; most of the milk is used to make pecorino sardo cheese. The Sarda is highly adaptable; it may be kept on lowland or on mountainous terrains, and is suitable both for intensive and for extensive or transhumant management.[2]Template:R/superscript The long, coarse white wool is of little value; it may be used to make carpets or mattresses.
History
The Sarda is both the most economically significant and the most numerous Italian breed of sheep.[1]Template:R/superscript It is a traditional breed of the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. It is reared throughout the island, and in substantial numbers in the mainland Italian regions of Lazio and Tuscany, where there are many Sardinian shepherds; there are small populations in Emilia-Romagna, in Liguria and in Molise.[3]Template:R/superscript It is also present in other Mediterranean countries, particularly Tunisia, where it is known as the Sicilo-Sarde.[2]Template:R/superscript[4]Template:R/superscript
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries a number of attempts were made to improve it by cross-breeding with stock of the Barbaresca, Gentile di Puglia, Merino, Rambouillet, Sopravissana and Vissana breeds among others. These experiments invariably had a negative impact on milk production.[2]Template:R/superscript Recent selection has been aimed at improving the conformation of the udder and at making it more suitable for mechanised milking.[5]Template:R/superscript
It is one of the seventeen autochthonous Italian sheep breeds for which a genealogical herdbook is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia, the Italian national association of sheep-breeders.[5]Template:R/superscript} The herdbook was established in 1928. Total numbers for the breed are estimated at Script error: No such module "val".;[2]Template:R/superscript in 2013 the number recorded in the herdbook was Script error: No such module "val"..[6]Template:R/superscript
Characteristics
The Sarda is of medium size: average heights and weights are Script error: No such module "val". and Script error: No such module "val". for ewes and Script error: No such module "val". and Script error: No such module "val". for rams. The fleece is white, as is the face; the face and lower legs are free of wool. The skin is fine and unpigmented; there may be some flecks of colour on the skin of the face or limbs. Ewes are naturally polled, rams may have vestigial or rudimentary horns.[2]Template:R/superscript
The Sarda adapts well to a variety of terrains and environments: it may be kept on lowland or on mountainous terrains, and is suitable both for intensive and for extensive or transhumant management.[2]Template:R/superscript
Use
The Sarda is reared principally for its milk, most of which is used to make pecorino sardo or pecorino romano cheese, both of which have Denominazione di Origine Protetta status. The milk yield of pluriparous ewes is in the range Script error: No such module "val". in a lactation of 180 days; the milk has an average fat content of Script error: No such module "val". and contains about Script error: No such module "val". protein.[2]Template:R/superscript
The meat is most often sold as milk lamb, slaughtered at a weight of some Script error: No such module "val"., which is reached in approximately 30 days.[2]Template:R/superscript
The long, coarse white wool is of little value;[3]Template:R/superscript it may be used to make carpets or mattresses. Ram fleeces weigh about Script error: No such module "val"., those of ewes average Script error: No such module "val"..[2]Template:R/superscript
References
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- ↑ a b Breed data sheet: Sarda / Italy (Sheep). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed November 2024.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i Daniele Bigi, Alessio Zanon (2008). Atlante delle razze autoctone: Bovini, equini, ovicaprini, suini allevati in Italia (in Italian). Milan: Edagricole. Template:Isbn.
- ↑ a b [s.n.] (1992). L'allevamento ovino e caprino: Moderne tecniche di conduzione (volume I, in Italian). Sassari: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna.
- ↑ Breed data sheet: Sicilo-Sarde / Tunisia (Sheep). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed November 2024.
- ↑ a b Le razze ovine e caprine in Italia (in Italian). Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia: Ufficio centrale libri genealogici e registri anagrafici razze ovine e caprine. Accessed September 2013.
- ↑ Consistenze Provinciali della Razza 21 Sarda: Anno 2013 (in Italian). Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia: Banca dati. Accessed September 2013.
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