Sakız Koyunu
Sakiz, is the Turkish name for the Greek island of Chios in the Aegean Sea, and so the Sakiz breed of sheep is almost the same as the Greek Chios breed. The Sakiz sheep was probably brought to Çesme, a town on the Karaburun peninsula in the province of Izmir, about 150 years ago. Initially, it was crossed with Kamakuyruk sheep, a semi-fat-tailed sheep, but the percentage of Sakiz genetics increased with subsequent importations and breeding. The fat deposit at the base of the tail today may be a result of this earlier crossbreeding. Another specualtion about its origin is that it is a cross between Thracian sheep and Dağlıç sheep. No matter what its origins are, it has fine white wool with black spots and speckles around the mouth, eyes and on ears and legs. Rams have long spiral horns; ewes are usually hornless. The breed is one of the tallest among local sheep breeds and weighs an average of 40 – 45 kg. Management of Sakiz sheep is quite different from that of Thracian Kivircik sheep, a breed also raised in Bursa. Sakiz sheep are kept in groups of 2 – 6 animals to supply meat and milk required by families. They, and their byproducts, are not generally sold commercially. The Sakiz has a high milk yield and is highly prolific, averaging two lambs per birth. Their milk is used for making various types of cheeses, and their meat is lower in fat than that of other sheep varieties. It is raised by sedentary farmeyrs, instead of nomadic pastoralists. During the winter they are kept and fed in simple stalls. There are registered flocks and rams available for breeding purposes kept by government agencies and universities; however, registration of sheep is not generally practiced by the farmers. During the Ottoman era, Sakiz sheep were among the most important animals in the Aegean region. During the weddings, they were the most valuable gift to present to bride’s family. In 1983. They are raised along the coastal towns of Çeşme, Urla, Seferihisar and at some other Aegean towns in the Izmir province. They are poorly adapt.
Back to the archive >
