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Chinanina. Origin. One of the oldest breeds of cattle, the Chianina originates in the area of the Valdichiana , from which it takes its name, and the middle Tiber valley. History.
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Origin One of the oldest breeds of cattle, the Chianina originates in the area of the Valdichiana, from which it takes its name, and the middle Tiber valley
History Chianina cattle have been raised in the Italian regions of Tuscany, Umbriaand Laziofor at least 2200 years. Columella, writing about types of oxen in about 55 AD, says "Umbria vastos et albos ..." (VI.I.2), which in the first English translation is "Umbria has such as are huge, and of a white color".Chianina oxen were the principal source of agricultural power in the area until displaced by mechanization and the collapse of the mezzadriasystem following the Second World War; they were in use in agriculture until at least 1970and are still used in processions such as the corteo storico of the Palio di Siena. From 1931 breeders began to favor selection of animals more suited to meat production, with shorter limbs, longer bodies and more heavily muscled rump and thighs; recently, selection is based also on factors such as growth rate, meat yield and, in cows, maternal ability.
BreedDescription The Chianina is both the tallest and the heaviest breed of cattle. Mature bulls stand up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in), and castrated oxen may reach 2 m (6 ft 7 in).It is not unusual for bulls to exceed 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) in weight.Males standing over 1.51 m (4 ft 11 in) at 12 months are considered top-grade. A Chianina bull named Donetto holds the world record for the heaviest bull, reported by one source as 1,740 kg (3,840 lb) when exhibited at the Arezzo show in 1955,but as 1,780 kg (3,920 lb) and 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) tall at the age of 8 by others including the Tenuta La Fratta near Sinalunga in the province of Siena, where he was bred. Cows usually weigh 800–900 kg (1,800–2,000 lb), but commonly exceed 1,000 kg (2,200 lb); those standing over 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) are judged top-grade. Calves routinely weigh over 50 kg (110 lb) at birth. The Chianina breed is characterized by white hair and a black switch. They have black skin pigmentation
Uses The Chianina is a dual purpose breed, raised both for meat and for draught use;the milk is barely sufficient for suckling.
Draught Use Until recent years, when it was replaced by machinery, the Chianina ox was used with excellent results both in agriculture and for road transport in its area of origin, the provinces of Arezzo, Florence, Livorno, Perugia, Pisa (parts only) and Siena, and in some parts of the more distant provinces of Caserta, Latina and Terni. It was highly adapted to the steep hill terrain and entirely suitable to the farms of the time, to mixed agriculture and to the smallholdings of the mezzadri.A typical casa colonica or rural farmhouse in the area had substantial stabling for oxen on the ground floor, while the habitable part was on the floor above
Meat Production The ideal slaughter weight is 650–700 kg (1,400–1,500 lb), reached at 16–18 months, where the yield may be 64–65%. The meat is renowned for its quality and nutritional values.In Italy it is sold by name at premium prices by approved butchers, the sales receipt detailing the breed, birth and slaughter dates, identification number and other data of the animal in order to guarantee its origin. Each of the 18 principal cuts is branded with the "5R" symbol of the Consorzio Produttori Carne Bovina Pregiata delle Razze Italian (consortium of producers of quality beef from Italian breeds), signifying the five indigenous beef breeds of Italy, the Chianina, the Marchigiana, the Maremmana, the Romagnola and the Podolica, in accordance with a ministerial decree of 5 July 1984
Cross-Breeding The Chianina breed is widely used for cross-breeding, most notably with Nelore cattle in Latin America. In the United States the Chianina has been cross-bred with English breeds to reduce the fat content of meat in line with current fashion; elsewhere it has been used to transmit size, growth rate and its relatively low skeleton weight to local breeds.[11] It has been found to transmit well qualities such as growth rate, meat quality, resistance to heat and cold and to insects and disease, and adaptation to rough terrain.[19] Stock cross-bred with the Chianina may reach slaughter weight a month earlier than normal.[16] In 1971 semen was first exported to the United States, where there are now many half-blood and quarter-blood animals
Pa’s 2nd favorite cow Pa Dubree (1925-Present)
