Apennine sheep
Ovis aries L.
RISK OF EROSION Threatened
DESCRIPTION The origin of the breed can be traced back to the end of the 19th century, when sheep of the Bergamasca breed were imported to Tuscany, Umbria, Romagna, Marche and Abruzzo, a breed formed in northern Italy probably as early as the 5th century. These subjects were crossed with the pre-existing Apennine populations, in order to intensify the production of meat.
BACKGROUND Through a subsequent selective action, the constitution of the current Apennine was reached in the middle of the last century, which differs considerably from the original population, locally called with different names: Vissana, Casentinese, Senese delle Crete, Barisciana, Pagliarola, Pomarancina, Perugina del Plan. On the Apennines in the mid-70s of the last century, a selection work began which culminated in 1980 with the recognition of the breed obtained by decree of the then Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. It has spread throughout most of the Apennine ridge and in the hilly areas adjacent to it, maintaining the rusticity of the original population unchanged, a rusticity that represents an essential feature for semi-extensive farming. Today it represents an entity well harmonized with the environment and therefore of considerable importance for its rusticity, understood as the ability to exploit forage resources even in disadvantaged areas and as adaptability to be reared in different environments.
TYPICAL FARMING AREA The whole Apennine ridge of Central Italy: Lazio, Marche, Romagna, Abruzzo, thus involving, albeit in a numerically different way, the provinces of Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna, Florence, Grosseto, Pisa, Siena, Perugia, Terni, Pesaro-Urbino, Rieti, Viterbo, Campobasso, Chieti, L’Aquila, Teramo.
GASTRONOMIC USE Using this breed it is possible to obtain a seasonal adjustment of the productions and to supply, with carcasses heavier than the dairy ones, a wide range of cuts that allow the creation of numerous and very tasty recipes. The Tuscan DOP pecorino is packaged with milk from the Apennines.
Texts taken from “Regional register of indigenous genetic resources of the Umbria Region”.