Istrian Milk

Also Known As: Istrian Pramenka(Slovenia), Istarska Ovca (Croatian) Istarska Pramenka (Croatian), Istarska mljecna (Croatian), Istriana or Carsolian (Italian)

Istrian Milk originates in Istria and Karst, in addition they are found in the regions of Gorizia in Italy. The name comes from the peninsula Istria. They are a dairy breed also kept for meat and wool production. The wool is of carpet wool quality. The Istrian Milk is of the Pramenda type and is nearly extinct. This breed now exists in two countries, Slovenia and Croatia. In Slovenia about 300 breeding ewes are reared, whereas breeding material and conservation programs are run in both countries.

Performance

Istrian Milk sheep produce milk with high fat and protein content. Using traditional husbandry methods they produce between 100 and 150 kg milk in the lactation with a fat content of 9% and a protein content over 6.4%. Some animals will produce milk that contains more than 13% fat and more than 7% protein with over 25% dry matter.

Table 1: Milk yield and content of some compounds in milk in the Istrian Pramenka sheep

                Yield   Fat    Protein Lactose  Dry matter  Milking
Year    n       kg       %        %       %         %        days
1993    51      142     9.29    6.42    5.73      21.44      125 
1994    28      107     7.51    5.44    4.34      18.00      103 
1995    45      150     7.20    5.80    4.10      16.70      229


References:

Drago Kompan, University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, 1230 DOMZALE, SLOVENIA e-mail: Dragomir.Kompan@Bfro.Uni-Lj.SI

Mason, I.L. 1996. A World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties. Fourth Edition. C.A.B International. 273 pp.

Photographs:

Juraj Grizelj, DVM, Croatia

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Added August 1, 2003