Schnalserschaf - Ultnerschaf
Italian breeds of sheep

Origin and diffusion

Area of origin: Schnalsltal (Val Senales), Province of Bolzano, northern Italy.
The Val d'Ultimo, locally Ultnerschaf, also known as Val Senales or Schnalserschaf, is an Alpine meat breed.
The Val d'Ultimo is derived from local sheep (Steinschaf or Roccia) crossed with Bergamo, and are similar in appearance to the latter, Italy's largest breed. The sheep are stall-fed in the valley during the winter. From late May to late September the holdings are combined into bands of 300–500 head and taken to graze in alpine pastures above 2 500 m elevation.

Morphological and economic characteristics

Size: medium-large
Height at the withers:
- Male: 84 cm
- Female: 77 cm
Weight:
- Male: 107 kg
- Female: 72 kg

Colour: about 80 percent are white, 15 percent black and 5 percent brown. Horns are absent.
Aptitude production: meat and wool.

Schnalserschaf (foto Emilio Pastore – Dipartimento di Scienze Animali – Università di Padova)