Review of the Sicilo-Sarda dairy sheep micro-sector in Tunisia: current situation and prospects for the recovery of the Sicilo-Sarda breed

摘要

Introduction. The Sicilo-Sarda is the only Tunisian dairy sheep breed. Milk from this breed is used in a micro-sector of cheese production. Numbers of sheep from this breed fell significantly during the 1990s, due to unfavorable economic and political choices, as well as a lack of technical control of livestock, which risked the sustainability of this cheese production sector. However, initiatives to preserve this breed have taken place in recent years. The present review of the scientific and professional literature highlights the current knowledge of the sheep dairy sector in Tunisia and presents the actions currently under way or to be undertaken in favor of its safeguarding.