Sarda goat

The Sarda is an indigenous breed of domestic goat from the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, off the west coast of central Italy. It is raised throughout the island, particularly in the provinces of Cagliari and Nuoro.^[2] It is an ancient breed that has been influenced by the Maltese goat.^[2]

Sarda

Conservation status	FAO (2007): not at risk^[1]
Country of origin	Italy
Distribution	Sardinia
Standard	MIPAAF
Use	milk, also meat^[2]
Traits
Weight	Male: 67 kg^[3] Female: 50 kg^[3]
Height	Male: 77 cm^[3] Female: 70 cm^[3]
Wool color	very variable
Horn status	may be horned^[4]
Beard	may be bearded^[3]
Tassels	may be present^[4]
Goat Capra hircus

The Sarda is one of the eight autochthonous Italian goat breeds for which a genealogical herdbook is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia, the Italian national association of sheep- and goat-breeders.^[5][6] The herdbook was established in 1981.^[7] In 1998 the total population was 260000, of which 6577 were registered in the herdbook;^[2] at the end of 2013 the registered population was 11121.^[8]

Characteristics

The animals are of medium build, long-necked and deep-chested; the does have well-developed udders. The breed is particularly hardy and well-suited to being raised in a wild or semi-wild state in tough conditions. As much of the available pasture is used by the Sarda sheep, goats are marginalised and allowed only the poorest terrain; they are fed little or nothing over and above what they can graze.^[2]

Use

The milk yield of the Sarda per lactation of 220–240 days^[2] is 173±62 litres for primiparous, 215±98 litres for secondiparous, and 237±109 litres for pluriparous, nannies.^[3] The milk averages 3.94% protein, and is used to make Gioddu, a fermented milk product; Casu Axeddu, a mixed pecorino–caprino cheese; and ricotta.^[2]

Kids are slaughtered at a weight of 7–10 kg.^[2]

References

1. Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed June 2014.
2. Daniele Bigi, Alessio Zanon (2008). Atlante delle razze autoctone: Bovini, equini, ovicaprini, suini allevati in Italia (in Italian). Milan: Edagricole. ISBN 9788850652594. p. 394–95.
3. Lorenzo Noè, Alessandro Gaviraghi, Andrea D'Angelo, Adriana Bonanno, Adriana Di Trana, Lucia Sepe, Salvatore Claps, Giovanni Annicchiarico, Nicola Bacciu (2005). (in Italian); in: Giuseppe Pulina (2005). L' alimentazione della capra da latte. Bologna: Avenue Media. ISBN 9788886817493. p. 381–435. Archived 5 October 2014.
4. Razza Sarda: Norme Tecniche Allegate al Disciplinare del Libro Genealogico della Specie Caprina (in Italian). Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia. Accessed June 2014.
5. 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. 36. Accessed June 2014.
6. (in Italian). Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali. Section I (e). Archived 4 May 2014.
7. Breed data sheet: Sarda/Italy. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2014.
8. Consistenze Provinciali della Razza 47 Sarda Anno 2013 (in Italian). Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia: Banca dati. Accessed June 2014.