Chianina

Hailing from Italy, chianina is an ancient cattle breed that is distinguished by its large size, well-muscled body, hardiness, excellent maternal abilities, ease of calving, and high adaptability to various environmental conditions.

The initial purpose of the breed was that of draught animals, and due to their remarkable appearance and bright ivory coat, the cattle commonly took part in ancient sacrificial ceremonies. The breed then evolved into a dual purpose breed reared for both its meat and as a draught animal, while today, the main focus has been placed on beef production.

Apart from Italy, pure-bred and cross-bred chianina are nowadays reared in other countries throughout Europe, in Ireland, Australia, the US, Canada, and, recently, South Africa.