Analisi del valore culturale delle razze caprine dell’arco alpino italiano

Many livestock local breeds are still today custodian of local traditions. The aim of this work was to analyse the cultural value of ten goat breeds farmed on the Italian Alpine ark: Roccaverano, Valdostana, Vallesana, Verzaschese, Lariana, Ciavenasca, Orobica, Bionda dell’Adamello, Mochena and Passiria. The following aspects were considered: role in maintaining the traditional landscape, role in maintaining the traditional farming systems and the traditional tools for the management of the animals and products making, role in maintaining gastronomy, role in maintaining folklore and handicrafts, presence in forms of artistic expression. The degree of endangerment of these cultural elements was assessed. The contribution of each breeds to the cultural variability of the metapopulation was computed. The parameters used were able to differentiate breeds on the basis of their cultural value. Many of these elements could be used to add economic value to the farming of these local breeds. In addition, the parameters used in this investigation could be used to define conservation priorities.