The Matesina is a breed of sheep raised on the massif of the Matese and in the Valle Telesina, in Campania in southern Italy.[1] It originates from the area of Dragoni, in the province of Caserta, and apparently derives from cross-breeding between the Appenninica and Gentile di Puglia breeds; the wool, like that of the Gentile di Puglia, is of fine quality.[1] The Matesina 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.[2]

Matesina
Country of originItaly
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    70 kg
  • Female:
    60 kg
Wool coloroff-white or pale hazelnut
Face colorwhite
Notes
triple-purpose: meat, milk and wool

In 2013 total numbers for the breed were not reported.[3] 1000 head were counted in 1983;[1] total numbers were reported as 120 in 2003[4] and estimated at 100 in 2007.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d Daniele Bigi, Alessio Zanon (2008). Atlante delle razze autoctone: Bovini, equini, ovicaprini, suini allevati in Italia (in Italian). Milan: Edagricole. ISBN 9788850652594. pp. 244–245.
  2. ^ 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. 64. Accessed September 2013.
  3. ^ Consistenze Provinciali della Razza G6 MATESINA Anno 2013 (in Italian). Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia: Banca dati. Accessed September 2013.
  4. ^ Breed data sheet: Matesina. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed September 2013.