Other names | Sardinian sheep |
---|---|
Country of origin | Italy |
Traits | |
Weight |
|
Wool color | white |
Face color | white |
Notes | |
milk | |
|
The Sarda is a breed of domestic sheep indigenous to the island of Sardinia. [1] It is raised throughout Italy, [2] and in other Mediterranean countries, particularly Tunisia. [3] The Sarda is considered to be among the best Italian breeds of sheep for production of sheep's milk; most of the milk is used to make pecorino sardo cheese. [3] 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. [3] The long, coarse white wool is used for weaving carpets and other goods.[ citation needed]
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries a number of attempts were made to improve the breed by cross-breeding with Merino, Rambouillet, Barbaresca, Gentile di Puglia, Sopravissana and Vissana breeds among others. These experiments invariably had a negative impact on milk production. [3] Recent selection has been aimed at improving the conformation of the udder and at making it more suitable for mechanised milking. [4]
The Sarda 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. [4] The herdbook was established in 1928. Total numbers for the breed are estimated at 5,000,000; [3] in 2013 the number recorded in the herdbook was 225,207. [5]
Media related to Sardinian sheep at Wikimedia Commons