|
Katsika GreekEFABIS Data
 |
International Name |
Katsika |
|
Local Name |
Katsika |
|
Location |
Epeirus |
|
Breeding females
(year) |
1.880 |
|
Trend of population size |
Increase |
|
Flock book established |
1999 |
Origin – history
The breed was formed in pre-war time after many years’ selection of
the desirable characteristics in Ioannina, and specifically in the
village of Katsika, from where the breed obtained the name. It is
formed from crossses of the mountain sheep of Epirus and the plain
sheep breed Karamaniko. The breed was used for the upgrading of the
mountain sheep, mainly in the semi - mountain regions of Ioannina
and Thesprotia. By the years the number of flocks decreased
significantly, due to the distribution of improved breeds. Today the
raised population is about 1500 heads and is supported under the
conservation measures for endangered breeds.
Breed description
The breed is of
medium size, with live weight ranging from 65 to 72 kg for the
males, and from 47 to 55 for the females. The colour is total white,
with black rings around the eyes. The head is of medium size. Often
appear some dark spots in the nose, in the ears and the legs. The
rams have spiral horns, while the ewes are hornless or polled.
Wither height ranges from 68 to 72 cm for the rams and from 58 to 62
for the ewes. The legs are short and strong. The udder is of medium
size, good attachment and milkability. The lambing season ranges
from the middle of October to the end of November. The age of first
calving is after the 15th month old. The prolificacy rate is around
1.3 to 1.35. The lambs are weaned at the age of 6 weeks at a weight
of 12 to 13 kg. The average milk production is about 120 to 150 kg
with fat percentage content around 7 to 8%. The percentage of
carcass weights around 60 to 65 % of the animal and has a very good
quality.
Conservation activities
The breed is under the conservation measures for the endangered
breeds. The programme is applied by the Farmers Association under
the supervision of the Genetic Improvement Centre of Ioannina of the
Ministry of Rural Development and Food. The number of breeding ewes
in the milk recording schemes is 1880.
Flock
Book
was
established
in 1999.
Contact:Dr.
Christina Ligda, NAGREF, Agricultural Research Centre of Northern
Greece, Dept. Genetic Resources, e-mail:
chligda@nagref.gr,
chligda@otenet.gr
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