Argentata of Etna
Encyclopedia
The Argentata of Etna is a variety of dairy goat
originating from the area around Mount Etna
in eastern Sicily
, and raised in the provinces of Catania
, Messina, Enna
, and Palermo
. This breed's origin is not very well known and today it has become very rare. Its name (Argentata translates as silver), derives from its characteristic hair coloration: white mixed with gray-black.
,
The Argentata of Etna goat is primarily raised for its milk, which is used in the production of traditional cheeses from eastern Sicily
.
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
originating from the area around Mount Etna
Mount Etna
Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe, currently standing high, though this varies with summit eruptions; the mountain is 21 m higher than it was in 1981.. It is the highest mountain in...
in eastern Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, and raised in the provinces of Catania
Catania
Catania is an Italian city on the east coast of Sicily facing the Ionian Sea, between Messina and Syracuse. It is the capital of the homonymous province, and with 298,957 inhabitants it is the second-largest city in Sicily and the tenth in Italy.Catania is known to have a seismic history and...
, Messina, Enna
Enna
Enna is a city and comune located roughly at the center of Sicily, southern Italy, in the province of Enna, towering above the surrounding countryside...
, and Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
. This breed's origin is not very well known and today it has become very rare. Its name (Argentata translates as silver), derives from its characteristic hair coloration: white mixed with gray-black.
,
The Argentata of Etna goat is primarily raised for its milk, which is used in the production of traditional cheeses from eastern Sicily
Eastern Sicily
Sicilia orientale is that part of the territory of Sicily to the Ionian coast of the isle.- Provinces of the Eastern Sicily :*Messina*Catania*Siracusa*Ragusa*Enna...
.