Chianina

The Chianina is the largest cattle breed in the world. Already on representations of the Etruscans Chianina cattle and find Pliny the Elder mentioned it: They are the oldest breed of cattle in Italy. Chianina cattle originally from Tuscany, Umbria and the Marche, in central Italy. The name is derived from the Chianina Chiana Valley in Tuscany.

The bulls are up to 180 cm tall and 1500 kg. Chianinakühe reach a height at the withers of 160 cm and a live weight of 800 kg. The animals are pure white, the calves are born, however, with reddish brown hair dress. The meat of these animals has exceptional quality and is often offered in Tuscany as Bistecca alla fiorentina.

Originally bred as a working animal cattle is now bred as pure beef cattle and used as a crossing partner for cattle from developing countries due to its tropical climates.

The cow is considered to be particularly sensitive and does not like change. For example, a deterioration of the quality of meat results in the change of the owner.

In 1955, the Chianina bull " Donetto " in Arezzo to a valid to this day cattle - weight record with 1740 kg.

On 8 November 2007, the Chianina ox " Fiorino " came with a height at the withers of 2.05 m in the Guinness Book of Records.

Each year on the last weekend in June takes place the " Sagra della Bistecca Chianina " in an old Italian village called Sestino.