Noticiana
The Noticiana is an Italian breed of domestic sheep indigenous to the inland parts of the province of Syracuse, in the south-eastern part of the Mediterranean island of Sicily, in southern Italy. Its name derives from that of the town and comune of Noto. It is raised in the province of Syracuse and in neighbouring parts of that of Ragusa. It is a southern Mediterranean breed, and derives from the Comisana. The Noticiana 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. However the herd-book is apparently empty and none have been reported for many years. The numbers and conservation status of the breed are unknown. The milk yield of the Noticiana averages 35 litres in 100 days for primiparous ewes, and 80 litres in 200 days for pluriparous ones. The milk is used to make the regional cheeses of the Val di Noto area, fresh and peppered pecorino, and ricotta.
| Life Span | 10-12 years |
| Weight | 45-160 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Noticiana
Finding a responsible Noticiana 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 Noticiana. 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 Noticianas 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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