Altamurana

Altamurana
Conservation status
  • FAO (2007): critical-maintained[1]
  • at risk of extinction[2]: 180 
Country of originItaly
Distribution
StandardMIPAAF
Useformerly triple-purpose, meat/milk/wool; now principally for milk
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    53 kg[3]
  • Female:
    39 kg[3]
Height
  • Male:
    72 cm[3]
  • Female:
    65 cm[3]
Skin colourpinkish white, black speckles or spots
Wool colourwhite
Face colourwhite

The Altamurana is an Italian breed of sheep from the province of Bari, in Puglia in southern Italy.[2]: 180 [4] It is of Asiatic, possibly Syrian, origin. It is raised mainly in the provinces of Bari and Foggia, and takes its name from the town of Altamura, in the Murge.[2]: 180  It was formerly considered a triple-purpose breed, yielding meat, milk, and wool; it is now kept principally for milk production. It yields approximately 65 kg of milk per lactation, with an average of 7.5% fat and 6.5% protein.[2]: 180 

The Altamurana is one of the seventeen autochthonous Italian sheep breeds for which a genealogical herdbook is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia, the Italian national association of sheep-breeders.[5] In 1984, the breed population was estimated at 190000 head.[2]: 180  In 2012, the total number recorded for the breed was 230;[6] it is considered to be at risk of extinction.[2]: 180 

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