BBPS Semperviva

Karakachan sheep

Bulgarian Biodiversity Preservation Society Semperviva

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Karakachan sheep (Karakachanska ovca in bulg.)

The Karakchan sheep is accepted as the most typical and most primitive, coarse wool sheep type "tzakel" in Bulgaria (Adametz,1906; Chlebaroff, 1932, 1940; Bogoljubskii, 1959; Savov, 1964; Terec, 1965; Balevska, 1967,etc.). This was proved by the craniometrical research of Balevska, Petrov (1967). According to the same authors this sheep is closest to the European mouflon Ovis musimon.

The Karakachan sheep is small (about 57 cm at withers), the short and thin tail is typical sign of the breed. Its wool is coarse and long (up to 26 cm). The coloration is grey-black and brown-black, but very seldom white. Very vital and energetic animal, very tough, almost never being ill, very unpretentious towards the food source. Highly developed feeling for being in a flock. Low productivity of litters (100 - 102%).

Factors influencing extinction of the breed

The Karakachan sheep had been one of the mostly spread breeds in Bulgaria in the past. In the beginning of the XX century the population size had been more than 500 000 individuals. In 1957, during the nationalization of the farming practice, the number is decreased to 158 896 individuals. (Danchev, 1994). At that time the socialist government decided to replace the local breeds of sheep with foreign, fine-fleeced. As a consequence of the state policy the local breeds had been massively crossbred with other breeds. There are other factors which threaten the breed. The alpine pastures in the country are hardly used. But if the Karakachan sheep is bred in lower mountainous lands it has lower productivity compared with other breeds. At the moment the mountain livestock breeding is a loosing practice. The government does not stimulate private livestock breeders to keep and work with autochthon breeds.

Current status of the breed

According to the Red Data List of the autochthon forms of domestic animals, included in the National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy of Bulgaria (1994) the Karakachan sheep is categorized as endangered. It is noted that the total population size of the breed is less than 2000 specimen (Y. Danchev, 1994). According to the official data of the government a flock of purebred Karakachan sheep is kept as gene material in the Institute of Mountain Livestock breeding in the town of Troyan. The flock number is about 120 sheep and is without a ram. The sheep have clear signs of hybridization - white and softer wool, long tails, larger height and untypical head. The information from employees in the institute is that the sheep have been crossbred in the past with the purpose to obtain new qualities. Only single individuals are similar by phenotype to the original Karakachan sheep. According to data of the Institute of Livestock breeding, the town of Kostinbrod 40 Karakachan sheep are kept there, but are grazed together with 80 sheep from the Replyanska and Zapadnostaroplaninska breeds. The Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Program together with a Bulgarian partner (Nature Protection Center "Eastern Rhodopes") works on a project to save the Karakachan sheep. A small flock (about 40 sheep) is being kept in Eastern Rhodopes area. A team of SEMPERVIVA members visited the place to see the flock. It was found out that there are all sorts of mix-bred sheep, which even are not similar to the Karakachan sheep.

During the expeditions of BBPS-Semperviva members to search for aboriginal sheep only single individuals were found with livestock breeders in some mountainous settlements of Rila, Phodopes and Pirin mountains. The only compact flock of Karakachan sheep which was found (about 40), is owned by an old Karakachan man from West Phodopes mountain. We have collected information that few more private flocks exist in different villages in the country. However, this information must be checked out. Generally, we consider that the complete population of the Karakachan sheep in the country is about 200 individuals and is close to the critical status. This opinion is supported by the fact that this population is spread through the country and the different groups do not have contact with each other.

The project work

Semperviva has already bought and secured 37 of the remaining Karakachan sheep.

The project is adviced by SAVE Foundation and financed by 'Fondation pour les Animaux du Monde, Vaduz/Liechtenstein.

2003-01-25

BBPS Semperviva
Sider Sedefchev, chairman
kv. "Tvardi livadi" bl. 51 ap.90
BG-2300 Pernik / Bulgaria

phone: +359-76/2 57 70
e-mail: semperviva@bluelink.net


		Karakachan sheep
		Bulgarian Biodiversity Preservation Society Semperviva optimized for 800x600 screen resolutions
Home Actuality Dog project Horse project Sheep project Links Portal Bulgarian Version		Karakachan sheep (Karakachanska ovca in bulg.) The Karakchan sheep is accepted as the most typical and most primitive, coarse wool sheep type "tzakel" in Bulgaria (Adametz,1906; Chlebaroff, 1932, 1940; Bogoljubskii, 1959; Savov, 1964; Terec, 1965; Balevska, 1967,etc.). This was proved by the craniometrical research of Balevska, Petrov (1967). According to the same authors this sheep is closest to the European mouflon Ovis musimon. The Karakachan sheep is small (about 57 cm at withers), the short and thin tail is typical sign of the breed. Its wool is coarse and long (up to 26 cm). The coloration is grey-black and brown-black, but very seldom white. Very vital and energetic animal, very tough, almost never being ill, very unpretentious towards the food source. Highly developed feeling for being in a flock. Low productivity of litters (100 - 102%). Factors influencing extinction of the breed The Karakachan sheep had been one of the mostly spread breeds in Bulgaria in the past. In the beginning of the XX century the population size had been more than 500 000 individuals. In 1957, during the nationalization of the farming practice, the number is decreased to 158 896 individuals. (Danchev, 1994). At that time the socialist government decided to replace the local breeds of sheep with foreign, fine-fleeced. As a consequence of the state policy the local breeds had been massively crossbred with other breeds. There are other factors which threaten the breed. The alpine pastures in the country are hardly used. But if the Karakachan sheep is bred in lower mountainous lands it has lower productivity compared with other breeds. At the moment the mountain livestock breeding is a loosing practice. The government does not stimulate private livestock breeders to keep and work with autochthon breeds. Current status of the breed According to the Red Data List of the autochthon forms of domestic animals, included in the National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy of Bulgaria (1994) the Karakachan sheep is categorized as endangered. It is noted that the total population size of the breed is less than 2000 specimen (Y. Danchev, 1994). According to the official data of the government a flock of purebred Karakachan sheep is kept as gene material in the Institute of Mountain Livestock breeding in the town of Troyan. The flock number is about 120 sheep and is without a ram. The sheep have clear signs of hybridization - white and softer wool, long tails, larger height and untypical head. The information from employees in the institute is that the sheep have been crossbred in the past with the purpose to obtain new qualities. Only single individuals are similar by phenotype to the original Karakachan sheep. According to data of the Institute of Livestock breeding, the town of Kostinbrod 40 Karakachan sheep are kept there, but are grazed together with 80 sheep from the Replyanska and Zapadnostaroplaninska breeds. The Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Program together with a Bulgarian partner (Nature Protection Center "Eastern Rhodopes") works on a project to save the Karakachan sheep. A small flock (about 40 sheep) is being kept in Eastern Rhodopes area. A team of SEMPERVIVA members visited the place to see the flock. It was found out that there are all sorts of mix-bred sheep, which even are not similar to the Karakachan sheep. During the expeditions of BBPS-Semperviva members to search for aboriginal sheep only single individuals were found with livestock breeders in some mountainous settlements of Rila, Phodopes and Pirin mountains. The only compact flock of Karakachan sheep which was found (about 40), is owned by an old Karakachan man from West Phodopes mountain. We have collected information that few more private flocks exist in different villages in the country. However, this information must be checked out. Generally, we consider that the complete population of the Karakachan sheep in the country is about 200 individuals and is close to the critical status. This opinion is supported by the fact that this population is spread through the country and the different groups do not have contact with each other. The project work Semperviva has already bought and secured 37 of the remaining Karakachan sheep. The project is adviced by SAVE Foundation and financed by 'Fondation pour les Animaux du Monde, Vaduz/Liechtenstein.
		2003-01-25
		BBPS Semperviva Sider Sedefchev, chairman kv. "Tvardi livadi" bl. 51 ap.90 BG-2300 Pernik / Bulgaria phone: +359-76/2 57 70 e-mail: semperviva@bluelink.net