The Calvana is a cattle breed from Tuscany, in central Italy. It is particularly associated with the Calvana region in the provinces of Florence and Prato, but is also raised in the provinces of Pistoia and Siena. It was previously considered a type within the Chianina breed, but is now recognised as a separate breed. A herdbook was opened in 1985.[1] It is one of the 16 minor Italian cattle breeds of limited diffusion recognised and protected by the Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali, the Italian ministry of agriculture.[2]

Calvana
Country of originItaly
DistributionTuscany
Useformerly dual-purpose, meat and draught; now meat
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    950–1100 kg
  • Female:
    650–750 kg
Height
  • Male:
    150–160 cm
  • Female:
    140–150 cm
CoatPorcelain white; black skin
Horn statusHorned

Uses

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The Calvana was in the past raised as a dual-purpose breed, for meat and as a draught animal;[3] it is now raised exclusively for meat. Animals are slaughtered between 15 and 21 months old, when they weigh 500–700 kg; average yield is 59.2%, slightly lower than that of the Chianina.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Breed data sheet: Calvana/Italy. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2013.
  2. ^ Norme Tecniche del Registro Anagrafico delle razze bovine autoctone a limitata diffusione (Appendix 2 to DM di approvazione del Disciplinare del 20/12/2011; in Italian). Associazione Italiana Allevatori. Accessed July 2013.
  3. ^ Daniele Bigi, Alessio Zanon (2008). Atlante delle razze autoctone: Bovini, equini, ovicaprini, suini allevati in Italia (in Italian). Milan: Edagricole. ISBN 9788850652594. p. 16–17.
  4. ^ Pierlorenzo Secchiari (co-ordinator) (2007). Scheda di Razza: Calvana (in Italian). Conference papers, Salvaguardia e valorizzazione del patrimonio zootecnico autoctono della Regione Toscana con riferimento alle seguenti razze: Bovini: Calvana, Garfagnina, Pontremolese; Ovini: Garfagnina Bianca, Pomarancina, Zerasca. Regione Toscana, Università di Pisa, Università di Firenze. Accessed December 2013.
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