Schafrassen in den Alpen - Alpine-space.org

Alpenraum.F RINK 20.09.2005 16:37 Uhr Seite 116
FRANCE
Brigasque
Breeding history
Brigasca sheep were formerly widely distributed in the whole Roya
Valley close to the Italian border, mainly in the canton Tende and in
Brique. Most probably, the breed developed through crossbreeding
local sheep with the Italian milk sheep breeds Delle Langhe and
Frabosa. Before World War Second, the breed consisted of several
thousand animals. The continuous decrease of population numbers
is connected with decreasing availability of sites along the Côte
d`Azur for winter grazing and decreasing milk processing and marketing.
Brigasca are also found in Italy, where they are often crossbred
with Langhe sheep.
Related Breeds
Fabrosa (I), Delle Langhe (I), Roaschia (I)
Description of the Breed
Brigasca are medium-framed and light sheep. Fully-grown rams
weight 70 kg on average. The wool is unicoloured white, head and
legs are red marbled with brown hair. The wool is of lesser quality.
The breed has a pronounced Roman nose, both sexes carry horns,
whereby the twisted horns of the rams stick out widely from the
head.
Special Performances
Brigasca are very robust milk sheep and well adapted to the
Mediterranean climate and to mountain regions. Their milk is used
to produce fresh cheese. Animals are kept as shepherded herds
during summer; they mostly remain outside during wintertime, too.
Ewes are non-seasonal; age at first lambing is 14 months.
Support
The breed is supported through EU-regulation 1257/99 with 6.50
Euro per animal and year.
Present Importance
Population numbers have been decreasing since 1950. The number
of herds has been reduced from 30 herds in 1950 to 4 in 2000.
75% of females are covered with purebred males today, the other
part with rams of the breed Mourerous. The milk is very good for
cheese production. Besides, lambs are sold for meat. The number
of animals is strongly decreasing, there are only 4 herds left at present.
A special conservation program for this breed does not exist.
Glossary for the table
Gesamtpopulation / Overall population
Anzahl Böcke / Number of rams
Bestandssituation /
Anzahl weibliche Zuchttiere /
Population numbers
Number of breeding females
Es existiert keine Kryoreserve / Herdbuch-Muttertiere /
There is no cryoreserve
Females in herdbook
Es existiert eine Kryoreserve /
Tägliche Zunahme / Daily gain
There is a cryoreserve
Schlachtgewicht / Trading life weight
Contact
FDGEDA; Box 58,
Min Fleurs 6,
F-06042 Nice cedex
Leistungsangaben / Performance data
Körpergewicht / Body weight
Vliesgewicht / Fleece weight
Ablammergebnis / Lambing percentage
Widerristhöhe / Withers height
Altböcke / Breeding males
Muttertiere / Ewes
Jahr / Year
116 BRIGASQUE