The Brigasca, French: Brigasque, is a breed of sheep from Liguria in north-west Italy[4] and the département of Alpes-Maritimes in south-eastern France. It takes its name from the town of La Brigue (Italian: Briga Marittima), which was until 1947 in the Italian province of Cuneo.[3][5] The Brigasca is raised in the provinces of Imperia and Savona in Italy, and neighbouring areas in France. It appears to have origins in common with the Frabosana and Delle Langhe breeds.[3] It is one of the forty-two autochthonous local sheep breeds of limited distribution for which a herdbook is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia, the Italian national association of sheep-breeders.[5]

Brigasca
Conservation statusFAO (2007): not at risk[1]
Other namesBrigasque
Country of origin
  • Italy
  • France
Distribution
StandardMIPAAF
Usedual-purpose, milk and meat
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    80–100 kg[2]
  • Female:
    65–70 kg[2]
Height
  • Male:
    65–70 cm[3]
  • Female:
    50–60 cm[3]
Skin colourpink with darker markings
Wool colourwhite
Face colourwhite
Horn statusabout 80% are horned

In 2013 total numbers recorded in Italy for the breed were 3008;[6] the French population was reported in 2001 to be 570.[7]

References

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  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 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b Norme tecniche della popolazione ovina “Brigasca”: standard della razza (in Italian). Ministero delle Politiche Agricole, Alimentari e Forestali. Accessed May 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Daniele Bigi, Alessio Zanon (2008). Atlante delle razze autoctone: Bovini, equini, ovicaprini, suini allevati in Italia (in Italian). Milan: Edagricole. ISBN 9788850652594. p. 196–97.
  4. ^ Breed data sheet: Brigasca/Italy. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed May 2014.
  5. ^ a b 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. 48–49. Accessed September 2013.
  6. ^ Consistenze Provinciali della Razza 34 Brigasca Anno 2013 (in Italian). Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia: Banca dati. Accessed September 2013.
  7. ^ Breed data sheet: Brigasque/France. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed May 2014.