Laticauda sheep primarily raised for meat and milk. The breed is originated from southern Italy. Even Laticauda belongs to a fat-tailed breed. The name Licauda means “broad-tailed” in Latin latus (“broad”) and cauda (“tail”).
Laticauda sheep breed information
Laticauda sheep are large-sized with white-colored wool and having a fat tail.
Ewes are polled.
The mature Laticauda ram height is around 82 cm and around 71 cm for the ewes.
The mature Laticauda ram weighs 95 kg (210 lb) and ewe weighs 70 kg (155 lb).
Lambs grow very fast and get ready for the market at the age of 4 months, the weights are 10 to 15 kg.
Laticauda has a high yield after slaughtering and the meat is flavorful.
The Laticauda sheep’s milk production per lactation is 120 to 140 liters, which contains 7 to 14 % fat and 5.5 to 8.5 percent of protein.
The Laticauda milk is used to make pecorino cheese (Pecorino di Laticauda Sannita).
Things to know
It is believed that the Laticauda was first brought to this area by the Bourbon king Charles Vii of Naples.
The breed is mostly seen in the provinces of Caserta, Benevento, and Avellino. Sparsely seen in Naples, Matera, and Cosenza.
The Laticauda is the result of the hybridization of local breeds with Barbary sheep(African sheep), just like the Barbaresca breed of Sicily.
“The most typical dish linked to the Laticauda breed is ammugliatielli, little rolls made from the “fifth quarter,” the offal normally discarded during butchering. ” – slowfood
The Associazione Nazionale Della Pastorizia has kept the genealogical handbook for Laticauda breed, it’s one of the seventeen autochthonous Italian sheep breeds.
In 1983, there were only 60k, in 2013 according to herdbook there were only 2802.
But the total population was estimated at 7000 head in the Campania region.
Brief characteristics of Laticauda sheep
| Breed Name | Laticauda Sheep |
| Other Name | |
| Country/Place of Origin | Southern Italy |
| Breed Purposeamerica | meat and milk |
| Breed Size | large |
| Weight Ram(Male) | 95 kg (210 lb) |
| Ewe(Female) | 70 kg (155 lb) |
| Kidding | single |
| Good for Stall Fed | open grazing |
| Climate Tolerance | all conditions |
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