Bergamasca (sheep)
| Bergamasca | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Italy |
| Traits | |
| Weight | Male: 111 kg |
| Female: 80 kg | |
| Wool color | white |
| Face color | white |
|
Sheep Ovis aries | |
The Bergamasca is a breed of domestic sheep from the mountainous part of the province of Bergamo, in Lombardy in northern Italy. It originates from the area of the Val Brembana and the Val Seriana valleys, and is particularly associated with the plateau of Clusone. By the beginning of the 20th century it had spread through much of Lombardy; it is now raised in most parts of mainland Italy,[1] and is also present in Brazil, Serbia and Venezuela.[2] It is raised principally for meat, and is often used for cross-breeding with other meat breeds to improve meat yield.[3][1] It is traditionally raised by transhumant management: the herds spend the summers on the alpine pasture, and over-winter in the Po valley.[1]
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.[3]
In 1983 the breed was estimated to number 95,000 head, of which 7900 were registered in the herdbook. In 2013 the registered stock numbered 12,042.[4]
Characteristics
The Bergamasca is white. Rams weigh 105 kg (231 lb) and grow to 90 cm (35 in) at the withers on average. At maturity on average, ewes weigh 82 kg (181 lb) and grow to 80 cm (31 in) at the withers.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Daniele Bigi, Alessio Zanon (2008). Atlante delle razze autoctone: Bovini, equini, ovicaprini, suini allevati in Italia (in Italian). Milan: Edagricole. ISBN 9788850652594. p. 188–189.
- ↑ Transboundary breed: Bergamasca. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed October 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Le razze ovine e caprine in Italia (in Italian). Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia: Ufficio centrale libri genealogici e registri anagrafici razze ovine e caprine. p. 19. Accessed October 2013.
- ↑ Consistenze Provinciali della Razza 32 BERGAMASCA Anno 2013 (in Italian). Associazione Nazionale dell Pastorizia: Banca dati. Accessed October 2013.
- ↑ Breed data sheet: Bergamasca/Italy. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed October 2013.