History
The breed belongs to the group of mountain type Zackel sheep. It was first described fairly recently, in the late 1980s. It is mainly bred in the eastern Magnesia prefecture and especially the Pelion mountain region after which it was named. It is adapted to the mountainous, semi-mountainous and coastal environment of its homeland. It usually forages among trees and especially olive groves, with relatively rich herbaceous growth. It is bred for its meat and milk, which is used in making Feta cheese.
Morphological Traits
The Pelion breed is a small-sized, coarse-woolled, thin-tailed sheep. Average weight and height at the withers for rams are 59 kg and 63 cm and for ewes 43 kg and 58 cm, respectively.
Ewes are polled. Rams usually carry large, strong and cyclical horns open to the sides. The head is conical, with a straight nose profile. Ears are very small, more rarely of medium size or entirely absent. The limbs are relatively short and strong. The tail is of average length and width.
Pelion sheep are well covered with dense wool and rich forelocks except in the face, legs and a small part of the belly. Their colour is uniform with yellow-gray bodies and chestnut wool free areas. A few animals may have red-black heads or entirely red-black bodies.
Population
According to the Karditsa CAGR data (2019), the total population of the Pelion breed is 3,254 animals.
The status of the breed is considered ‘Not at Risk’.