:Nera Verzasca
{{Short description|Swiss breed of goat}}
{{use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{use list-defined references|date=June 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox goat breed
| name = Nera Verzasca
| image = Capra Nera di Verzasca.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| status = {{nobreak|FAO (2007): not at risk}}
| altname = {{unbulleted list|Verzaschese|Nera di Verzasca|Nera Verzascaziege}}
| nickname =
| country = Switzerland
| distribution = {{unbulleted list|canton of Ticino|Lombardy, Italy}}
| standard = [http://www.assonapa.it/norme_ecc/CAPRINI-RA_Standard_WEB/Verzaschese.htm MIPAAF]
| type =
| skincolour =
| coat = black
| facecolour = black
| horns = horned in both sexes
| tassels =
| note =
}}
The Nera Verzasca, also known as the Nera di Verzasca or Verzaschese, is a Swiss breed of black domestic goat from the Valle Verzasca, in the canton of Ticino in southern Switzerland, from which it takes its name. It is raised in that area and in the provinces of Como, Varese and Verbano Cusio Ossola in northern Lombardy, in the north of Italy.
Numbers
In Italy, the Verzaschese is one of the forty-three autochthonous goat breeds of limited distribution for which a herdbook is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia, the Italian national association of sheep- and goat-breeders. In Switzerland the Nera Verzasca is among the endangered breeds for which a herdbook is kept by the Schweizerischer Ziegenzuchtverband or Federazione svizzera d'allevamento caprino, the Swiss federation of cantonal goat breeders' associations. In 2010 the total population in the two countries was {{val|3014}}, of which {{val|1902}}, or about 63%, were in Italy. At the end of 2013 the registered population in Italy was variously reported as {{val|1388}} and as {{val|1529}}, and that in Switzerland was {{val|2200|–|2300}}.
Use
The average milk yield per lactation of the Nera Verzasca was measured in 2003 at {{val|185}} litres for primiparous, {{val|318}} litres for secondiparous, and {{val|365}} litres for pluriparous, nannies; a study in 2008–10 found an average yield of {{val|373}} litres in 208 days, with an average of 3.50% fat and 3.06% protein. In Italy the milk is used to make caprino cheeses such as Formaggella del Luinese, which has DOP status, while in Switzerland much of it is made into Büscion, a fresh goat's-milk cheese; ricotta is made in both areas.
Kids are slaughtered at an average age of 41 days, at an average weight of {{val|14|u=kg}}.
References
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{{Goat breeds of Switzerland}}
{{Goat breeds of Italy|state=autocollapse}}
Category:Goat breeds originating in Italy