Maltese goat
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| Conservation status | FAO (2007): not at risk[1] |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Asia Minor[2] |
| Distribution | |
| Standard | MIPAAF |
| Use | milk[4] |
| Traits | |
| Weight | |
| Height | |
| Skin colour | pinkish white, dark where the coat is black |
| Wool colour | white |
| Face colour | white with black sides, black crown and black ears |
| Horn status | sometimes horned[5] |
| Beard | males usually bearded[5] |
| Tassels | may be present[5] |
| |
The Maltese is a breed of domestic goat from the east and central Mediterranean area.[4]: 371 It originates in Asia Minor, and takes its name from the island of Malta.[2] It is raised mainly in southern Italy, and particularly in the islands of Sicily and Sardinia.[4]: 371 Although the Maltese: Mogħża Maltija is reported to DAD-IS,[6] the official view is that there are no pure-bred specimens of the breed in the Maltese islands, although it is possible that some modern Maltese goats are closely related to the original type.[7]: 36 The Maltese is also present in Greece, Turkey[8] and the Maghreb.[4]: 371
Characteristics[edit]
The Maltese is a long-haired white goat characterised by a raven-black area on the top and sides of the head and long pendulous black ears which turn outwards at the tip.[4]: 371
Registration and numbers[edit]
In Italy, the Maltese is one of the eight autochthonous Italian goat breeds for which a genealogical herdbook is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia, the Italian national association of sheep- and goat-breeders.[9][10]: 90 The herdbook was established in 1976.[2] The Italian population of the breed was estimated in 1983 to be about 70,000, and in 2005 at 40,000. At the end of 2013 the registered population reported was 1934.[11]
In 2023, a non-profit organisation named Breeds of Origin Conservancy collaborated with a Maltese farm in Delimara known as Tulliera Farm Deli and imported 60 goats from Sicily in order to strengthen the endangered indigenous Maltese goat population in Malta. [12]
Use[edit]
The Maltese is a valued milk breed; the milk has pleasant taste without an excessively "goaty" odour or flavour. Yield per lactation is 242 ± 87 litres for primiparous, 307 ± 141 litres for secondiparous, and 358 ± 160 litres for pluriparous, nannies; it may reach 500–600 kg in 300 days.[2] The milk has an average of 4.28% fat and 3.66% protein.[4]: 372 In Sicily the milk is used to make ricotta and traditional caprino cheeses including Padduni, which has PAT status, and Formaggiu ri crapa.[4]: 372
Kids are slaughtered at a weight of 8–11 kg.[4]: 372
References[edit]
- ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed June 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Lorenzo Noè, Alessandro Gaviraghi, Andrea D'Angelo, Adriana Bonanno, Adriana Di Trana, Lucia Sepe, Salvatore Claps, Giovanni Annicchiarico, Nicola Bacciu (2005). Le razze caprine d'Italia (in Italian); in: Giuseppe Pulina (2005). L' alimentazione della capra da latte. Bologna: Avenue Media. ISBN 9788886817493, pages 381–435. Archived 5 October 2014.
- ^ Breed data sheet: Maltese/Italy. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Daniele Bigi, Alessio Zanon (2008). Atlante delle razze autoctone: Bovini, equini, ovicaprini, suini allevati in Italia (in Italian). Milan: Edagricole. ISBN 9788850652594.
- ^ a b c Razza Maltese: Norme Tecniche Allegate al Disciplinare del Libro Genealogico della Specie Caprina (in Italian). Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia. Accessed June 2014.
- ^ Breed data sheet: Moghza Matija/Italy [sic]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2014.
- ^ Rural Development Department (2012). Rural Development Programme for Malta 2007 – 2013. Malta: Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs. Accessed June 2012.
- ^ Transboundary breed: Maltese. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2014.
- ^ Strutture Zootecniche (Dec. 2009/712/CE - Allegato 2 - Capitolo 2) (in Italian). Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali. Section I (e). Archived 4 May 2014.
- ^ Le razze ovine e caprine in Italia (in Italian). Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia: Ufficio centrale libri genealogici e registri anagrafici razze ovine e caprine. Accessed June 2014.
- ^ Consistenze Provinciali della Razza 40 Maltese Anno 2013 (in Italian). Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia: Banca dati. Accessed June 2014.
- ^ "Imports 60 goats from Sicily to strengthen indigenous Maltese goats". tvmnews.mt. 13 September 2023.