Castellana

A native Spanish breed of Castile and León, mainly in Zamora, Salamanca and Valladolid. With the Churra, Ojalada and Roya Bilbilitana it belongs to the region's native sheep group; the white variety is a breed for development, the black one endangered.

Extremely hardy, it grazes any terrain and survives in very dry, poor areas. Medium-sized with a straight or slightly convex profile; the head is wool-free with small horizontal ears. Originally dark, it was selected towards white from the 19th century because white wool could be dyed.

Kept for meat and milk: its suckling lambs fall under the PGI Lechazo de Castilla y León, and its milk makes Castellano and Zamorano cheese. It contributed to Mexico's Chiapas sheep and is ancestor of Chile's Criollo Chilote.