Blonde and dark-faced latxa sheep in the Basque Country
The breed is a medium or small-sized sheep with long, coarse wool. Ewes are polled or have short horns, while rams always possess long, spiral horns. The name latxa itself refers to the rough quality of the wool, which is largely an agricultural byproduct today.[1]
Traditionally, Latxa sheep have been managed by moving the flock to mountain pastures in summer when the ewes have finished lactating, with cheese-making taking place on the farm. Some flocks are moved while still lactating, with the animals being hand-milked on the high pastures. Since 1982, a breeding scheme has been introduced and new production methods tested. Artificial insemination is being used to provide earlier lambing and prolong the breeding season and machine milking is taking the place of hand milking. The mountain pasture is still used as a "free" resource, and the sheep do not compete with cattle and horses which graze the more level areas, because the sheep prefer herbaceous plants on more steeply sloping land.[2]
Latxa have a seasonal lactation cycle which does not produce as great a volume of milk as other dairy breeds. Recently some Basque Country farmers have begun to use hybrid Assaf sheep, which some maintain does not meet the Denomination of Origin for the cheese.[3]
Referencesedit
^Gomez, M; I. Amezaga (2003). "Conservation of livestock genetic resources in Euskadi (Basque Country)". Animal Genetic Resources Information Bulletin. 33 (33). FAO: 41–55. doi:10.1017/S1014233900001620.
^A. Georgoudis; A. Rosati; C. Mosconi (2005). Animal Production and Natural Resources Utilisation in the Mediterranean Mountain Areas. Wageningen Academic Pub. pp. 292–295. ISBN978-90-76998-56-5.
^Schmitt, Maggie (May 27, 2009). "Sheep vs. Sheep in Basque Country". The Atlantic.
Further readingedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blonde Latxa.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dark-faced Latxa.
Ugarte, E.; Urarte, E.; Arrese, F.; Arranz, J.; Silio, L.; Rodriguez, C. (1996). "Genetic Parameters and Trends for Milk Production of Blond-Faced Latxa Sheep Using Bayesian Analysis". Journal of Dairy Science. 79 (12): 2268–77. doi:10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(96)76604-3. PMID 9029366.
Ruiz, R.; Oregui, L.M.; Herrero, M. (2000). "Comparison of Models for Describing the Lactation Curve of Latxa Sheep and an Analysis of Factors Affecting Milk Yield". Journal of Dairy Science. 83 (11): 2709–19. doi:10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(00)75165-4. PMID 11104292.
January 01, 1970
latxa, basque, pronunciation, latʃa, spanish, lacho, lacha, breed, domestic, sheep, native, basque, country, spain, mostly, contained, within, provinces, biscay, gipuzkoa, navarre, dairy, sheep, whose, unpasteurized, milk, used, produce, idiazábal, roncal, che. The Latxa Basque pronunciation latʃa Spanish Lacho Lacha is a breed of domestic sheep native to the Basque Country of Spain Mostly contained within the provinces of Biscay Gipuzkoa and Navarre Latxa are dairy sheep whose unpasteurized milk is used to produce Idiazabal and Roncal cheeses There are two sub types of the breed a dark faced and a blonde Blonde and dark faced latxa sheep in the Basque Country The breed is a medium or small sized sheep with long coarse wool Ewes are polled or have short horns while rams always possess long spiral horns The name latxa itself refers to the rough quality of the wool which is largely an agricultural byproduct today 1 Traditionally Latxa sheep have been managed by moving the flock to mountain pastures in summer when the ewes have finished lactating with cheese making taking place on the farm Some flocks are moved while still lactating with the animals being hand milked on the high pastures Since 1982 a breeding scheme has been introduced and new production methods tested Artificial insemination is being used to provide earlier lambing and prolong the breeding season and machine milking is taking the place of hand milking The mountain pasture is still used as a free resource and the sheep do not compete with cattle and horses which graze the more level areas because the sheep prefer herbaceous plants on more steeply sloping land 2 Latxa have a seasonal lactation cycle which does not produce as great a volume of milk as other dairy breeds Recently some Basque Country farmers have begun to use hybrid Assaf sheep which some maintain does not meet the Denomination of Origin for the cheese 3 References edit Gomez M I Amezaga 2003 Conservation of livestock genetic resources in Euskadi Basque Country Animal Genetic Resources Information Bulletin 33 33 FAO 41 55 doi 10 1017 S1014233900001620 A Georgoudis A Rosati C Mosconi 2005 Animal Production and Natural Resources Utilisation in the Mediterranean Mountain Areas Wageningen Academic Pub pp 292 295 ISBN 978 90 76998 56 5 Schmitt Maggie May 27 2009 Sheep vs Sheep in Basque Country The Atlantic Further reading edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blonde Latxa nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dark faced Latxa Ugarte E Urarte E Arrese F Arranz J Silio L Rodriguez C 1996 Genetic Parameters and Trends for Milk Production of Blond Faced Latxa Sheep Using Bayesian Analysis Journal of Dairy Science 79 12 2268 77 doi 10 3168 jds S0022 0302 96 76604 3 PMID 9029366 Ruiz R Oregui L M Herrero M 2000 Comparison of Models for Describing the Lactation Curve of Latxa Sheep and an Analysis of Factors Affecting Milk Yield Journal of Dairy Science 83 11 2709 19 doi 10 3168 jds S0022 0302 00 75165 4 PMID 11104292 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Latxa amp oldid 1142522174, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
