Bagnolese
The Bagnolese is an Italian breed of domestic sheep from the area surrounding Bagnoli Irpino in the province of Avellino, in Campania in southern Italy. It takes its name from that of the town. It is raised principally in Irpinia, in the Monti Picentini, in the Monti Alburni, in the Piana del Sele and in the Vallo di Diano. It probably derives from the Barbaresca breed, and may also have been influenced by the Comisana. It is one of the forty-two autochthonous local sheep breeds of limited distribution for which a herd-book is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia, the Italian national association of sheep-breeders. In 2013 total numbers for the breed were 13538.
| Life Span | 10-12 years |
| Weight | 45-160 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Bagnolese
Finding a responsible Bagnolese breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells sheeps commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Bagnolese. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Bagnoleses appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
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Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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