Tsigai

History

The Țigaie breed is part of the domestic sheep species. The breed originates from sheep domesticated in the area of the eastern part of the Black Sea and through migration over time, through the north and south of the sea reaching the south of Moldova and the area of Dobrogea, where it began to form as a local breed, being one of the first breeds of sheep from Europe. By some authors it is considered an old race, formed early, not being a primitive race, but still unimproved according to modern breeding science, based on population genetics.
From the place of formation in southern Moldavia and Dobrogea, Țigaia also spread to Transylvania by the Mocans who practiced transhumance, being acclimatized in the mountain area of the Curbura Carpathians.

Properties

Generally the sheep has long dangling ears, white wool with some black thread, and its legs and head are black or dark brown. Its skin is dark and the body parts which are covered with keratin are dark grey. The male Tsigai can sometimes grow horns.
The Tsigai only lambs once a year, and rarely bears twins.
There are two different breeds of Tsigai:

"Old" or native Tsigai

The "old" breed is bred for its milk, meat and wool, which is used in textile industry. The male Tsigai's shoulder height is and the female's is. The Tsigai is milked for 5–6 months, and this breed can yield 40 to 60 litres of milk. The lambs are sandy grey in colour. There are around 10,000 females and 50 males in Hungary, both in the Körös-Maros National Park and in private breeders' farms.

Domestic Tsigai

Since 1999 the domestic Tsigai has been recorded as a separate breed to the "old" Tsigai, and has been a protected breed since 2008.The domestic breed is bred for its milk. The milk of the Tisgai is used in cheesemaking. Its body size is much bigger than the "old" Tsigai; the male's shoulder height is and the female's is. In the milking period it yields of milk. Lambs are born with a black fleece.