The old Italian Merino-derived breeds and their role in landscape conservation in typical production and in the maintenance of traditional culture

The old Merino-derived Italian breeds Gentile di Puglia and Sopravissana had a strong effect in the establishment of technological, social and economic characteristics of the rural populations living in the Centre and South of Italy. As a matter of fact these breeds, once reared in large flocks (over 2,000 heads) constituted for centuries the main economic resource of those populations. Besides that, seasonal transhumance migration made a real contribution in shaping their social development. The presence of thousand of sheep from May to October had a definite effect on the determination of the present botanical composition of the mountain pasture and consequently the current landscaper of the Appennine environment. The products of Gentile di Puglia and Sopravissana are high quality wool, “romanesco” and “canestrato” cheese, and lambs named “pasqualini”, “natalini”, “mulacchi”, “abbacchio”; all of these products have their own characteristics and can therefore be recognised for their real tipicality. During the last half century, these two breeds, which had a population of over 5,000,000 heads, suffered a dramatic drop; only a few thousand heads currently survive. In this context, all the economic and social aspect related to their rearing are endangered. It is easily observed that in many territories the characteristics flora has changed and, at the same time, the typical products mentioned above have become difficult to find. For this reason, a number of project are being planned to save these breeds from extinction, by implementing more efficient selection strategies, monitoring the residual populations, providing economic support to the farmers who still breed them and setting up conservation flocks in regional and national parks.