Podolica
Podolica is an original country cattle breed from Italy.
Origin
Podolica is an old country race, which is still pretty close to their original race, the gray cattle of the eastern steppes (see also Podolisches beef), which arrived at the time of the migration to the west. It is named after the Ukrainian Podolia region and is the starting race of most Italian landraces. A breed association herd book was established in 1931. In the following years, bulls of breeds Romagna, Maremma and Brown Swiss cattle were bred after the Second World War bulls of breeds Chianina and marchigiana. In 1969, the National Association of Italian beef cattle breeders ( ANABIC ) again a herd book for Podolica one, which was revised in 1984. In recent times, especially bulls of breeds Simmental, Brown Swiss, Romagna and Italian Holstein ( Friesian italiana ) now be used for crossing. However, the influence of introgression seems to have been too low to alter the genotype of the breed much .. The attitude form the Podolica as all year held extensive grazing cattle in dry, thin shrub landscape is also likely to complicate enforcement of genes highly bred cattle breeds.
2002 were registered in the herd book 11,387 cows and 124 bulls. They can be found mainly in central and southern Italy ( Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Puglia ).
Description
Adults Podolica are gray, the bulls and the cows black gray white gray. Calves up to the age of about six months, light brown / wheaten. The skin of the animals is obscure; visible on the mucous membranes. Bulls' horns are crescent-shaped, the cows lyre-shaped. They are initially gray, from the age of about two years yellowish- white with dark tips. With 70 cm to 1 m, they are comparatively long. Head and neck are slightly shortened, the dewlap is pronounced, the bull also shoulder and neck muscles. The animals are long-legged and lightly built.
Properties
The Podolica were a classic three -purpose breed, which was mainly used as a draft animal and next served as milk and meat supplier. These three multiple use has been preserved, has in recent times but vice versa. The current breeding goal is that of an extensive cattle meat, the meat is described as " tasty but fibrous and tough ." In addition, the Podolica serve as a milk supplier. The milk has a fat content of 4.5%, the protein content is 3.6%. The average milk production is only 1300 kg per year, but the milk is. Extremely palatable described ("... the incomparable milk of cows Podolica " ) The use as a draft animal after all, is still given, but is only of secondary importance. Strengths of this late-ripening race count beyond their resilience and their health.
Podolica be used as one of the breeds in the Erzüchtung of the Taurus - ox, a planned dump to breed back the aurochs.