Sardinian

Sardinian is most often an English regional name for the Sarda sheep of Sardinia, the island's dominant dairy breed. Used carefully, the label points to white Mediterranean sheep selected for milk rather than to a separate meat or wool breed. Sardinian sheep are tied to island grazing, sheep-milk cheese, and long selection for ewes that can produce in dry, varied terrain.

Because Sardinian can be a regional adjective, breeders and buyers should clarify whether the animals are registered Sarda, a local island flock, or simply sheep from Sardinia. That distinction matters for milk records, udder selection, cheese production, and conservation. Practical evaluation should look at lactation, milk solids, lambing rhythm, feet, temperament in the parlor, and adaptation to Mediterranean pasture. The coarse white wool may be useful in limited ways, but the breed's main value is dairy flock performance and the cultural economy built around Sardinian sheep milk.