Tiroler Bergschaf

{{Short description|Breed of sheep}}

{{use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{use list-defined references|date=September 2013}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}

{{Infobox sheep breed

| name = Tiroler Bergschaf

| image = Stubai - Tiroler Bergschaf -BT- 01.jpg

| image_alt = head of a sheep with long drooping ears

| image_caption =

| status =

| altname = Pecora Alpina Tirolese

| country = {{unbulleted list|Austria|Italy}}

| maleweight = 80–120 kg

| femaleweight = 70–100 kg

| woolcolour = white

| facecolour = white

| note = dual-purpose, meat and wool

}}

File:Bergschaf tiroler 01.JPG, in Tyrol in Austria]]

The Tiroler Bergschaf or Pecora Alpina Tirolese is a breed of domestic sheep from the mountainous Tyrol area of Austria and Italy.{{r|dad|bigi|page=288}} The name means "Tyrolean mountain sheep". It is raised throughout Austria{{r|dad2}} and in the autonomous province of Bolzano in Italy.{{r|bigi|page=288}} It results from cross-breeding between the Tiroler Steinschaf of the Tyrol with the Italian Bergamasca breed from the area of Bergamo.{{r|aspa|page=78}} This is variously reported as having taken place in the first half of the 19th century{{r|dad2}} and after the Second World War.{{r|bigi|page=288}}

The Tiroler Bergschaf is one of the forty-two autochthonous local sheep breeds of limited distribution for which a herdbook is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia, the Italian national association of sheep-breeders.{{r|aspa|page=78}} In 2013 no total number for the breed was recorded in the herdbook.{{r|aspa2}} In 2008 an Italian population of 12888 was reported to DAD-IS.{{r|dad}}

The Austrian herdbook was opened in 1938; the population reported for Austria in 2012 was 12901 to 19000.{{r|dad2}}