Merinizzata Italiana

The Merinizzata Italiana is a breed of domestic sheep from southern Italy.[1][2] It is a modern breed, created in the first half of the twentieth century[1] or in recent decades[2][3] by cross-breeding of indigenous Gentile di Puglia and Sopravissana stock with imported Merino breeds such as the French Berrichon du Cher and Île-de-France, and the German Merinolandschaf. The aim was to produce a good meat breed without sacrificing wool quality. The Merinizzata Italiana is raised mostly in Abruzzo, mainly in the provinces of L'Aquila and Teramo, with small numbers in neighbouring regions.[2]

The Merinizzata Italiana 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.[3] In 2000 total numbers for the breed were estimated at 600,000, of which 19,000 were registered in the herdbook;[2] in 2013 the number recorded in the herdbook was 27,260.[4]

Lambs are usually weaned at 6–7 weeks, and slaughtered soon after, at a weight of 10–15 kg. Rams yield about 4.5 kg of wool, ewes about 2.5 kg; the wool is of good quality, with a fibre diameter of 18–26 microns.[2]