Sarda

The Sarda, or Sardinian goat, is an indigenous Italian dairy goat from the island of Sardinia. It is a rustic Mediterranean breed shaped by rocky hills, scrubland, and seasonal grazing rather than by uniform show-ring appearance. Sarda goats are generally medium sized, often horned, and may have short to medium coats in black, brown, white, mixed, or spotted patterns. They are used chiefly for milk, which supports farmhouse and regional cheese production, with surplus kids contributing to local meat markets.

Sarda herds are commonly managed in extensive or semi-extensive systems, browsing maquis vegetation and grazing rough land that would not suit more intensive dairy animals. Good management still includes kidding supervision, parasite control, mineral supplementation, and milking hygiene, especially where milk enters cheese-making. Selection tends to balance yield with hardiness, fertility, and the ability to maintain condition on local forage. Outside Sardinia, the name should be used carefully, since mixed Mediterranean goats may resemble the breed without belonging to the same breeding population.

Colors: Belted, Black, Black and White, Black and White Mixed, Brown, Brown and White, Brown and White Mixed, Buckskin, Chamoisee, Cou Blanc, Cou Clair, Cream, Fawn, Gold, Moonspotted, Pinto, Pure White, Red, Red and White, Roan, Spotted, Sundgau, Swiss Marked, Tan, White, White with Black Points, White with Brown Points