History
The Kefalinia Sheep was documented as a separate breed in the 1990s when it was found to possess sufficiently distinct characteristics. According to its breeders it originated in the neighboring island of Ithaki where it is still bred. It appears to have a common origin with Karystos sheep and shares certain features with Pelion sheep. This relatively small sized sheep in pure form is bred mainly in the north-east of the island. In the rest of Kefalinia it is crossed with the dairy Friesland sheep and other imported breeds. In the past, members of the breed were transferred to the mainland (Aetoloakarnania and Epirus) and crossed with local populations. These sheep are frugal, robust and hardy, capable of efficiently exploiting the mountainous and semi-mountainous regions of the island with their relatively poor pasturelands.
Morphological Traits
The Kefalinia sheep is of rather small size, coarse-woolled and thin-tailed. The rams’ average weight and height at the withers are 58 kg and 65 cm respectively. The ewes’ corresponding weight and height at the withers are 44 kg and 60 cm.
Rams have strong, spiral horns open to the sides. There is often a dark stripe along the middle of the horn’s inner side. Ewes are polled or have rudimentary horns. Rams have conical heads of average length with a slightly convex profile. Ewes have straight profiles. The ears are small and semi-erect. The body is rather compact with limbs that are strong and of average length. The tail is thin and relatively long.
Considering that it is not bred for its fleece, the wool is of good quality. The wool covers the entire body except the head, legs and belly. The breed has a uniform colour. The fleece is white. The wool free areas are yellow-gray, red-gray and black-gray.
Population
According to the Athens CAGR, the total population of the Kefalinia breed is approximately 35,000 animals.
The status of the breed is considered ‘Not at Risk’.