Origin
The Santa Inês breed is the result of crossing the Bergamasca breed (of Italian origin) with the Morada Nova breed, an animal raised in northeastern Brazil.
Raised on native pastures, the breed can reach 360 days of age and weigh 38 kg at puberty. The recorded ovulation rate is 1.04. The average mating rate is 97%, the calving rate is 84%, and the average birth weight is 42 kg.
Features
In native pastures, lambs average 3.5 kg at birth, 19 kg at 112 days (weaning), and 25 kg at 196 days of age. The mortality rate during weaning is minimal. In natural pastures, animals aged 2 to 7 years have an average birth rate of 1.25 lambs per birth. Adult Santa Inês rams can quickly reach 85 kg (natural pasture) and in some cases, reach 100 kg.
Advantages
The Santa Inês breed has a low fat content and very high-quality hide, making it widely used in the clothing industry. They are hardy and precocious animals, adaptable to any breeding and grazing system, and easily integrate into the most diverse regions of the country. The females are prolific and have good maternal abilities.
