Keeping Sheep Herds Healthy - Adopt a sheep, Italian-style

Using new millennium technology, residents of the medieval village of Abruzzi in the mountains of central Italy are trying to keep their 2,000-year-old tradition of raising sheep from becoming extinct.
Sheep lovers anywhere in the world can pledge $154 on the Internet to adopt one of the 40,000 animals, says a recent report in The New York Times. In return, adoptive "parents" are entitled to a year's supply of wool, organic cheese, a photograph and adoption papers for their chosen animal. Or, "the less sentimental can also choose to receive their adopted pet in the form of lamb chops," says the report.

The program was started by Manuela Cozzi, who, with her husband's family, runs an organic sheep cooperative in an area with dwindling numbers of young people -- who are moving to the cities -- and sheep. Only about 350,000 sheep now graze in the remote region where before World War I some 3 million sheep were raised, says the report.

The adoption contract includes 11 pounds of sharp pecorino cheese, 6.5 pounds of ricotta and a choice of raw wool or knitted hiking socks. Also available are organic sheep manure, sausages, sheep's brains and legs of lamb.

URL:http://www.citihealth.com/layout.cfm?hc=40&Body=News_Story&ID=925