Awassi
 A ram in Kuwait | |
| Country of origin | Middle East |
|---|---|
| Distribution | eighteen countries in Africa, Asia and Europe[1] |
| Use | milk, meat, wool |
| Traits | |
| Weight | |
| Height | |
| Wool colour | white |
| Face colour | brown |
| Notes | |
| tolerant of extreme temperatures | |
| |
The Awassi (Arabic: عواسي, romanized: ʿAwāssī) is a breed of dairy sheep of Near-Eastern fat-tailed type. It is the most widely distributed non-European dairy breed.[3]: 265 It is usually white with brown head and legs.
History[edit]
The Awassi is a traditional breed of dairy sheep of Near-Eastern fat-tailed type. It is the most widely distributed non-European dairy breed[4]: 727 and the most numerous sheep breed of south-west Asia. It is the principal sheep of Iraq and Syria and the only indigenous sheep of Israel, Jordan and Lebanon.[2]
It is reportedly present in eighteen countries in Africa, Asia and Europe, with a total population estimated in 2024 at 2.85 million head.[1] The largest population is reported by Turkey, where the Ivesi numbers approximately 1.7–2.9 million head; other substantial populations are in Palestine (over 360000) and Lebanon (about 200000).[1] A population in Syria of approximately 13.5 million head was reported in 2006.[5]
It has contributed to the development of several modern breeds, among them the Assaf, Israeli Awassi, Pak Awassi, Neimi and Shafali.[4]: 727
Characteristics[edit]
The Awassi is of moderate size, with average weights of 68 kg for ewes and 70 kg for rams; average heights are 50 cm and 76 cm respectively.[2] The usual colouring is white with brown head and legs; the face may also be white, grey, black or spotted, and a solid-coloured brown or black coat occasionally occurs.[3]: 265 The facial profile is convex and the ears pendulous.[2] Rams are normally horned, ewes more often polled.[3]: 265
It is used for a range of products; meat, milk and wool. However, this breed is raised primarily for milk.[6] They have unique physiological characteristics such as resistance to many diseases and parasites, walk long distances over pastures for grazing, tolerating extreme temperatures ([7] Al-Ghetaa, 2012) and enduring adverse feeding conditions. It easily adapts to different environments and performs as well as in its native habitat. Awassi sheep are well-adapted to the poor Mediterranean pasture and can compensate for under-nutrition during the dry season by using the stored energy reserves in the fat tail. It has a high mothering ability. Due to its high milk producing potential under harsh conditions, the Awassi breed can be used as a sire breed in improving milk production of many indigenous Asiatic and African breeds. The Awassi breed is known to be the highest milking breed after the East Friesian breed.[citation needed]
Awassi sheep can be kept under a wide range of production systems, from nomadic flocks relying on natural pasture in semi-arid areas where lamb production is the primary products, to intensive dairy flocks where milk and lambs contribute almost equally to the flock gross income, and it is known for its hardiness and adaptability.[8][9]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Transboundary breed: Awassi. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Breed data sheet: Awassi / Syrian Arab Republic (Sheep). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2024.
- ^ a b c Valerie Porter, Ian Lauder Mason (2002). Mason's World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types, and Varieties (fifth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 085199430X.
- ^ a b Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
- ^ Mohamad Yaser Amin, Kurt-Johannes Peters (2006). Awassi Sheep Production and the Development of breeding Program Options in Syria. Prosperity and Poverty in a Globalised World – Challenges for Agricultural Research (Tropentag, 11–13 October 2006). Bonn, Germany: University of Bonn. Archived 19 July 2011.
- ^ "Awassi/Israel/Iran". Breed Data Sheet. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System. Retrieved 9 September 2009.
- ^ Al-Ghetaa, Hasan (2012). "Effect of Environmental High Temperature on the Reproductive activity of Awassi Ram Lambs". The Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Medicine. 36 (2): 244. doi:10.30539/iraqijvm.v36i2.502.
- ^ "Awassi Sheep A Rare Breed of Middle East Origin". Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ^ "Awassi". ScienceDirect. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
