The Bovec sheep is a dual-purpose breed of domestic sheep which is raised for both meat and milk production. It was originated from the upper valley of the Soca or Isonzo river, now in Slovenia.
Today it is raised in the Soca valley in Slovenia, in the areas of Resia and Tarvisio in Friuli in Italy, and in Styria and Carinthia in Austria.
The breed is known by some other names such as Slovene: bovška ovca, Italian: Plezzana, German: Krainer Steinschaf and Trentarka. Today the breed is raised for both meat and milk production in it’s native area.
Total populations of the Bovec sheep was around 3500 animals in 2012 in Italy, and around 2719-4000 in Austria.
The breed is one of the 42 autochthonous sheep breeds of limited distribution for which a herdbook is kept. And the herdbook is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia, the Italian national association of sheep-breeders.
And the herdbook was empty in 2013. Read some more information about this Italian sheep breed below.
Bovec Sheep Characteristics
The Bovec sheep are small to medium sized animals. They are mainly black, brown or off-white in color generally with white face or sometimes spotted.
Their ears are small and short. Their belly is bare and legs are thin. They can walk on steep meadows easily because their back legs are inclined.
Average body height of the rams is around 64 cm at the withers, and around 60 cm for the ewes. Average live body weight of the mature Bovec sheep is around 45 kg. Photo from Pinterest and info from Wikipedia.
Uses
The Bovec sheep are dual-purpose animals. They are good and raised for both meat and milk production.
Special Notes
The Bovec sheep are well adapted to their local climates and do well there. They are relatively strong animals and they can walk on steep meadows easily.
The breeding ewes generally produce approximately 1.23 lambs per litter. And the ewes usually produce around 221 kg of milk per lactation.
Their lactation period is of around 210 days. Their milk is of very good quality, containing around 6.3 percent fat.
However, review full breed profile of the Bovec sheep in the following chart.
| Breed Name | Bovec |
| Other Names | Known by some other names such as Slovene: bovška ovca, Italian: Plezzana, German: Krainer Steinschaf and Trentarka |
| Breed Purpose | Dual-purpose (meat and milk) |
| Special Notes | Very hardy and strong animals, well adapted to their native climates, can walk on steep meadows easily, ewes generally produce approximately 1.23 lambs per litter, ewes are good milk producers, good quality milk, meat is also of pretty good quality |
| Breed Size | Small to medium |
| Weight | Around 45 kg |
| Horns | No |
| Climate Tolerance | Native climates |
| Color | Mainly white, also black and brown |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country/Place of Origin | Italy |
