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The Istrian Pramenka
- Istrijanka [Source:
http://www.bfro.uni-lj.si/zoo/publikacije/avtohtone_pasme/eng/The%20Istrian%20pramenka.html.]
by Drago KOMPAN
In the region of Karst and Istria sheep
breeders have traditionally bred domestic, autochthonous sheep which
they called Istrianka, Karst Sheep, Primorska sheep and even a Rough
Wool Sheep. In those days sheep breeding was well developed in the above
mentioned parts of Slovenia. The short and long Transhumanca was well
known. Istrian sheep were bred mainly for their unusual
characteristics: their distinct long-stepping walk and ability to graze
in rocky terrain. They will graze even on the dry old grass, though they
are quite skillful at finding fresh grass between rocks. The best known
breeders are in Karst and in Istria (in Presnica and Socerb, in Dolenja
vas as well as in Bistra, Pivsko and Postojna).
The Istrian Pramenka is of quite a large
frame, owing to the highly placed torso and long strong legs. Its udders
are shaped right, fastened high, with large teats. Its slim head, with
the nose’s crest and jutting out ears, is placed on a long neck. Thus,
the sheep can use their slim snout to find even the best hidden blades
of grass in between the rocks and boulders of Karst. The sheep’s
multicolored wool does not cover the animals’ entire body; their legs
and belly are naked of wool, and in other parts they are only covered
with shaggy fleece. As with other breeds, Istrian sheep are not
all alike, and this characteristic has given way for the animals to be
named after the location rather than their appearance (since the sheep
look different from one breeder to the next). The breeders bred white,
black, spotted, patchy sheep, short-eared sheep, horned sheep, horn-less
sheep, and the list goes on and on.
Rams will reach up to 95 kg in body weight,
while the ewes range from 60 to 75 kg. Female lambs were bred in their
second year, while horned rams were bred in their first season.
Istrian sheep have a couple of traits in common: their tenaciousness and
adaptability to relatively rough surroundings. Today, we are able to get
a lot more out of these sheep because of the improved husbandry and
better food breeders provide. The litter size is 1.28 liveborn lambs and
the sheep give 143 kg of milk in their lactation period. The milk
contains 6.2 % milk fat and 5.2 % protein while some will give milk with
over 8 % fat and 6 % protein. A
special breed preservation program (gene bank) run in the autochtonous
environment involves 400 animals.
References:
- Bregar, D.: Ohranjanje
avtohtonih pasem domačih živali v Sloveniji. Diplomska naloga.
Domžale, BF, Odd. za zootehniko, 1997, 62 s.
- Jenko, Z.: Istrijanka - istrska
pramenka. Drobnica, 2 (1996), s. 22-23
- Kompan, D.; Drobnič, M.; Komprej
A.; Birtič, D.; Brežnik, S.: Mlečnost ovc v kontroliranih tropih
v Sloveniji v letu 1998. Domžale, BF, Odd. za zootehniko, 1999
- Kompan, D.; Erjavec, E.; Kastelic,
D.; Kavčič, S.; Kermauner, A.; Rogelj, I.; Vidrih, T.: Reja
drobnice. Ljubljana, ČZD Kmečki glas, 1996, 309 s.
- Novak V.: Zgodovina agrarnih
panog. I. zvezek. Državna založba Slovenije, Ljubljana 1970, s. 343
- 394
- Smerdel, I: Ovčarstvo na Pivki,
etnološka razprava, Lipa 1989, 157 s.
- Zagožen, F.: Ovčereja.
Ljubljana, ČZP Kmečki glas, 1981, s. 9 - 20.
Source:
- The Preserved Slovenian Autochtonous
Domestic Animals (Slovene & English) -
http://www.bfro.uni-lj.si/zoo/publikacije/avtohtone_pasme/
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