Sheep breed
Karagouniko
Karagouniko
The heat-tolerant dairy sheep of the Thessalian plains.
Description1
One of Greece's best-known and most numerous native sheep breeds, kept mainly on the plains of west Thessaly. It is named after the Karagounides pastoralists who have lived there for centuries.
A tall, long and thin-tailed, coarse-woolled sheep with a convex profile and semi-pendulous ears. It withstands extreme heat and humidity and resists mastitis and piroplasmosis.
Kept semi-extensively or extensively in flocks of 50–300 on natural pasture and stubble, with supplements during lactation. Milk yield is not given in the source (tbc).
History1
Over centuries
Linked to the Karagounides pastoralists of west Thessaly; a plains breed descended from the Zackel group.
1957 / 1978
Breeding station at Palamas; genetic improvement programme from 1978 (Karditsa).
2003
The Karagouniko sheep co-operative is formed.
Breed standard and breed society
The official breed description, breeding goal and herdbook rules are published by the breed's recognised breed society.
- Amalthia – Karagounikohttps://www.amalthia.org/en/breeds/sheep/176-karagouniko
Photo gallery
All photos are freely licensed (Wikimedia Commons, Flickr); author, source and licence are shown under each image.
Sources
Accessed: 2026-10-18.