Nera di Arbus
The Nera di Arbus, more fully Pecora Nera di Arbus, is an Italian breed of small domestic sheep indigenous to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, off the western coast of central Italy. It is closely similar to the widespread Sarda breed of Sardinia, but is completely black. It takes its name from the comune of Arbus, in the province of Medio Campidano, in the south-western part of the island. It is raised in the provinces of Cagliari, Nuoro, Oristano and Sassari. The breed achieved official recognition in 2008.
History
The Nera di Arbus is one of the seventeen autochthonous Italian sheep breeds for which a genealogical herd-book is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia, the Italian national association of sheep-breeders. In 2008, the first year of registration, head were registered in the herd-book; in 2013 the total number recorded was ; for 2023 a total of head was reported, including breeding ewes and 313 active rams. In 2025 the conservation status of the breed was listed as "not at risk".
Characteristics
The Nera di Arbus is closely similar to the widespread Sarda breed of Sardinia, but is completely black. The fleece is black, covering the whole body except for the face and lower legs; the skin is elastic, fine and black, sometimes with pale flecks in those areas that are free of wool. Average body weights are for ewes and for rams; average heights at the shoulder are and respectively.
Use
The milk yield of the Nera di Arbus, over and above that taken by the lambs, averages 50 litres in 100 days for primiparous ewes, and litres in 180 days for pluriparous ones. The milk averages 6.5% milk-fat and 5.6% milk protein. Lambs weigh at 30 days. Rams yield about of wool, ewes about ; the wool is of coarse quality. It is used to make orbace, a coarse hand-woven cloth, from which two traditional Sardinian garments are made: sa mastrucca, the overcoat worn by shepherds; and su sacu, a heavy waterproof blanket.