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Savoiarda

The Savoiardaorrazza di Cuorgné is a threatened breed of upland sheep from the province of Turin, in Piemonte, north-west Italy.^{[2][3]: 274} The few remaining breeders are in the Val Chisone, the Val di Susa, the Valli di Lanzo and the Val Pellice.^[3]: 274

The origins of the Savoiarda are not clear; it appears to be related to the Thônes et Marthod breed from the area of Savoie, in France, which lies to the west of Piemonte. Out-crossing to other breeds including the Biellese and the Frabosana have reduced the productivity of the Savoiarda, caused a loss of morphological characteristics, and contributed to its decline.^[3]: 274 It is also threatened by the industrialisation of the lower Val di Susa.^[4] 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.^[4]

In 2013 the total number for the breed was 120.^[5]

The Savoiarda is of medium size. Weight is variable, but averages 65–70 kg for rams and 55–60 kg for ewes.^[1] Rams usually stand 68–82 cm at the withers, and ewes about 67–72 cm.^[1] The head is rather large, with a convex profile. Rams are usually horned, with robust spiral horns; in ewes the horns are small or absent. The ears are narrow and slightly drooping. The face is white with black "spectacles" round the eyes; the muzzle is black, sometimes with white patches, and the legs are white with some black spotting. The coat is off-white.^[3]: 275

The Savoiarda was traditionally a triple-purpose breed, raised for meat, milk and wool. It is now reared mainly for meat. Lambs are slaughtered at a weight of 12–15 kg.

Ewes give 100–150 litres of milk per lactation, most of which goes to the lambs. Rams yield about 3 kg of wool per year, and ewes about 2 kg. The wool is coarse, suitable for making mattresses, with a staple length of about 125–150 mm (5–6 in).^[3]: 275