The Role of Local Sheep and Goat Breeds and Their Products as a Tool for Sustainability and Safeguard of the Mediterranean Environment

Abstract

This chapter is a survey of recent studies on native sheep and goat breeds with special emphasis on their role as a tool of sustainability. After a short overview, strategies for adding value to the local breeds are described together with a synthesis of measures in support of animal biodiversity in marginal areas of Mediterranean environment. In this direction, three case studies are reported in which the added value of local breeds arising from a typical and/or traditional product is investigated. The first one is on native sheep breeds from Apulian region and the PDO Canestrato Pugliese cheese, and it indicates that Altamurana and Apulian Merino breeds produce milk and cheese having nutritional characteristics and sensory properties distinguishable from non-native breeds. The second and third studies regard local goat breeds and local cheeses, Caciotta and Ricotta cheeses. As it appears from our discussion, Girgentana breed produces milk and Caciotta and Ricotta cheeses with distinguishable fatty acid profile, nutritional index and sensory properties compared to other breeds. These peculiarities add value to the Girgentana breed and therefore give a support in favour of this breed, amplifying its sustainable use. Finally, we point out that the high quantity of sialyloligosaccharides found in local Garganica breed compared to foreign breed appears as an interesting promising feature in the study of adding value to local breeds.