The Grigio Siciliano or Asino Ferrante, is a breed of donkey from the Mediterranean island of Sicily in southern Italy.[2] It is bred only on the island, in the provinces of Agrigento, Enna, Palermo, Ragusa and Syracuse.[3] The conservation status of the Grigio Siciliano was listed as "critical" by the FAO in 2007.[1] In 2012 it was not among the autochthonous donkey breeds of limited distribution recognised by the Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali, the Italian ministry of agriculture and forestry.[4] A recent census conducted by researchers at the University of Messina counted approximately 100 individuals between 4 months and 14 years old.[3][5]

Grigio Siciliano
Conservation statusFAO: critical[1]
Other names
  • Asino Ferrante
  • Asino Grigio Siciliano
Country of originItaly
Distributionin Sicily:
Traits
Height
  • Female:
    124 cm

References

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  1. ^ a b Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed May 2014.
  2. ^ Breed data sheet: Asino Grigio Siciliano. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed September 2013.
  3. ^ a b Daniele Bigi, Alessio Zanon (2008). Atlante delle razze autoctone: Bovini, equini, ovicaprini, suini allevati in Italia (in Italian). Milan: Edagricole. ISBN 9788850652594. p. 161–62.
  4. ^ Norme tecniche: Allegato 2 a D.M. 9742 del 7 maggio 2012 (in Italian). Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali. Accessed September 2013.
  5. ^ Luigi Liotta, Biagina Chiofalo (n.d.). L'Asino Grigio Sicilano (in Italian). Associazione Italiana Razze Autoctone a Rischio di Estinzione. Accessed May 2014.