The Tiroler Steinschaf or Pecora della Roccia Tirolese is a breed of domestic sheep from the mountainous Tyrol area of Austria; a few are raised in Italy.[1][2] The name means "Tyrolean rock sheep". It is raised in the states of Tyrol and Salzburg in Austria[1] and in the autonomous province of Bolzano in Italy.[2] It dates from the early 19th century and is the oldest Tyrolean sheep breed.[1]

Tiroler Steinschaf
In the Tiergarten Schönbrunn, Vienna
Other namesPecora della Roccia Tirolese
Country of originAustria
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    90 kg
  • Female:
    70 kg
Wool colourgrey, black or white
Face colourusually black
Notes
dual-purpose, meat and wool

The Austrian herdbook was established in 1973.[3] The registered population reported for Austria in 2012 was 2780 to 3500,[1] and total numbers are estimated at 12,000.[3]

The Tiroler Steinschaf 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.[3] In 2013 no total number for the breed was recorded in the herdbook;[4] total numbers are about 60 head.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Breed data sheet: Tiroler Steinschaf/Austria. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed September 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Daniele Bigi, Alessio Zanon (2008). Atlante delle razze autoctone: Bovini, equini, ovicaprini, suini allevati in Italia (in Italian). Milan: Edagricole. ISBN 9788850652594. p. 290–291.
  3. ^ a b c Tiroler Steinschaf (Pecora della Roccia Tirolese): Standard della razza (in Italian). Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia: Ufficio centrale libri genealogici e registri anagrafici razze ovine e caprine. Accessed September 2013.
  4. ^ Consistenze Provinciali della Razza TS TIROLER STEINSCHAF Anno 2013 (in Italian). Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia: Banca dati. Accessed September 2013.