Ruda sheep
Ruda is a breed of sheep found mostly in Albania and Croatia. In 2009, Ruda sheep is the most endangered breed of sheep in the Republic of Croatia.[1] The area in Croatia where Ruda is grown is exclusively the Dubrovnik coast and the neighbouring islands, with a smaller hinterland of Dubrovnik.[2] The Ruda sheep originated from the Romanian Tsigai, a fine fleeced sheep in the Balkans.[3] The Ruda may be related to the Romanian Tsigai.[4] This breed is primarily raised for wool.[5]
Characteristics
[edit]The Ruda can have white or blond wool with a pink skin. This breed has a white head and has white spots on body and head. At the withers, mature ewes average 55 cm (21.6 inches) and rams 65 cm (25.6 inches). Mature ewes average 38 kg (83.7 lbs) and rams 48 kg (105.8 lbs). The Ruda is well adapted to low temperatures and mountain grazing.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "REFINING THE CONSERVATION GENETICS PARADIGM: genetic sources of extinction, environmental stress, and the maintenance of adaptive diversity" (PDF). Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- ^ "Ruda - Dubrovnik sheep". Sheep breeds in the Republic of Croatia. Croatian Association of Sheep and Goat Breeders. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
- ^ Kusza, Sz.; Ivankovic, A.; Ramljak, J.; Nagy, I.; Jávor, A.; Kukovics, S. (2011-08-01). "Genetic structure of Tsigai, Ruda, Pramenka and other local sheep in Southern and Eastern Europe". Small Ruminant Research. 99 (2): 130–134. doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2011.03.059. ISSN 0921-4488.
- ^ "BREED DESCRIPTIONS: UNIFORM-WOOLED (RUDA) BREEDS". Declining breeds of Mediterranean sheep. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- ^ "Ruda/Croatia". Breed Data Sheet. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
- ^ "Breed description: Ruda". SHEEP in ALBANIA. Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. Archived from the original on 2008-01-27. Retrieved 2009-04-30.