Apennine Sheep
Other Names: Appenninica, Bariscianese, Chietina Varzese, Perugina del piano
This breed was found in the 70's in central Italy, mainly in Toscana, Emilia, Umbria, Arche, Abruzzi regions of Italy; crossbreeding the local breed with other Italian or exotic breeds such as Bergamasca and Ile-de-France. It is a medium wool breed kept primarily for meat production. It is polled and has semi-lopped ears. There are an estimated 250,000 heads, spread out over central and southern Italy.
Description and Management
Rams and Ewes are polled.
| Large Frame | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rams | Ewes | |
| Weight (kg) | 78 | 56 |
| Withers H. (cm) | 77 | 69 |
| Trunk L. (cm) | 79 | 73 |
The breed is reared in small or medium size flocks, that usually are not the only economic source of the farm.
Production
The main products are:
- Lean lamb: slaughtered at 50-60 days of age (live weight = 15-22 kg)
- Wool: fiber diameter 30-35 microns; fleece weight 3.5 kg in the rams and 2.5 kg in the ewes
References
Asso.Na.Pa. 1997. Caratteri tipici ed indirizzi di miglioramento della razze APPENNINICA. Asso.na.pa, Rome (Italy).
Prof. Francesco Panella, Dipartimento di Scienze Zootecniche dell'Università degli Studi di Perugia
