The Algarve goat is part of the most recent philatelic issue by CTT, dedicated to six livestock breeds of Portuguese origin.
The Mertolenga bull, the Barrosã cow, the Galega Mirandesa and Merina Preta sheep and the Algarvian and Serrana goats are the species chosen to represent this Portuguese genetic heritage.
The issue consists of six stamps, with nominal prices of 0,50 euros, 0,65 euros and 0,85 euros and a limited joint print run of 330 copies and a miniature sheet, including the six stamps of the issue, with the limited edition of 40 thousand copies.
In Portugal, 47 autochthonous breeds of livestock species are recognized by the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary: 15 breeds of cattle, 15 of sheep, six of goats, four of equidae, four of chickens and three of swine. These breeds have their own morphological characteristics and geographic distributions, some of which are restricted to a small number of municipalities.
With the modernization of the agricultural sector, some of these breeds were replaced by others, originating from different parts of the world, with a view to increasing the profitability of production.
For this reason, several autochthonous breeds are currently at risk of extinction, with a few dozen representative specimens and a very small number of breeders.
The design of this issue was in charge of Francisco Galamba and was carried out in collaboration with Ruralbit and the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary Medicine. These illustrations, by biologist and illustrator Carlos Medeiros, are part of the scientific illustration project of all Portuguese autochthonous races, developed in partnership with Ruralbit company.
The stamps are on sale and available for postal circulation from February 8th, the date on which the first day obliterations will also take place at the CTT dos Restauradores stores, in Lisbon, Municipality, Porto, Zarco, Funchal, and Antero de Quental, in Ponta Delgada.
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