Ruda sheep explained

Ruda is a breed of sheep found mostly in Albania and Croatia. In 2009, Ruda sheep is the most endangered breed of sheep in the Republic of Croatia.^[1] The Ruda sheep originated from the Romanian Tsigai, a fine fleeced sheep in the Balkans.^[2] The Ruda may be related to the Romanian Tsigai.^[3] This breed is primarily raised for wool.^[4]

Characteristics

The Ruda can have white or blond wool with a pink skin. This breed has a white head and has white spots on body and head. At the withers, mature ewes average 55 cm (21.6 inches) and rams 65 cm (25.6 inches). Mature ewes average 38 kg (83.7 lbs) and rams 48 kg (105.8 lbs). The Ruda is well adapted to low temperatures and mountain grazing.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Web site: REFINING THE CONSERVATION GENETICS PARADIGM: genetic sources of extinction, environmental stress, and the maintenance of adaptive diversity . Universidade de Santiago de Compostela . 2009-04-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110720150239/http://www.lugo.usc.es/congresos/esf05/booklet.pdf . 2011-07-20.
2. Kusza. Sz.. Ivankovic. A.. Ramljak. J.. Nagy. I.. Jávor. A.. Kukovics. S.. 2011-08-01. Genetic structure of Tsigai, Ruda, Pramenka and other local sheep in Southern and Eastern Europe. Small Ruminant Research. en. 99. 2. 130–134. 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2011.03.059. 0921-4488.
3. Web site: BREED DESCRIPTIONS: UNIFORM-WOOLED (RUDA) BREEDS. Declining breeds of Mediterranean sheep. 2009-04-30. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
4. Web site: Ruda/Croatia. Breed Data Sheet. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System. 2009-09-08.
5. Web site: Breed description: Ruda. SHEEP in ALBANIA. 2009-04-30. Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. 2008-01-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20080127150726/http://www.tiho-hannover.de/einricht/zucht/eaap/descript/1047.htm. dead.