Geographical distribution of sheep and goat breeds in Slovenia

Geographical distribution of small ruminant breeds kept in Slovenia and included into the National selection program was studied. Analyses of the population size and its structure were made together with the geographical distribution (geographical coordinates of flocks locations upon Gauss-Krueger coordinate system; the values of x and y). For individual flocks the radial distance from the geographic centre of gravity was calculated, and a distribution graph was made where cumulative distribution of animals depending on their distance from the geographic centre of gravity is presented. The calculated geographical centre for the autochthonous breeds is in the area of their origin, while traditional and foreign breeds gravitate towards the central part of Slovenia. It is characteristic of autochthonous breeds that the majority of their population is located within a small radius, compared to foreign and traditional breeds. So, the autochthonous breeds are mostly concentrated just to a smaller geographical area. Three Slovenian autochthonous breeds of sheep (Bela Krajina Pramenka, Istrian Pramenka and Bovec sheep) have 90 % of their population within a distance of less than 25 km, while the Slovenian autochthonous breed of Drežnica goat has 90 % of the total population within a radius of less than 30 km. Traditional and foreign breeds are not confined to only one region or area. Due to the occurrence of natural disasters or sudden outbreak of diseases the scarce Slovenian autochthonous sheep and goat breeds are considered as most endangered population.