Conservation status | FAO (2007): endangered [1]: 69 |
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Country of origin | Italy |
Distribution | |
Type | upland |
Use | meat |
Traits | |
Weight |
|
Wool colour | white |
Face colour | white |
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The Saltasassi is an Italian breed of upland sheep, reared for meat. It originates in the provinces of Verbano Cusio Ossola [2] and Novara in the northern part of Piemonte, in north-west Italy. [3] It is one of the forty-two autochthonous local sheep breeds of limited distribution for which a herdbook is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia, the Italian national association of sheep-breeders. [4]
The population in 1983 was estimated at 2500. [2] [3] In 2013 the total number for the breed was not recorded; in 2012 it was 37. [5] A study conducted by the region of Piemonte in 2000 found the Saltasassi to be virtually extinct. [2]