Valdostana Pezzata Nera

Valdostana Pezzata Nera
a mixed herd of red-pied and black cattle; the nearest one has white markings
Valdostana Pezzata Nera (foreground)
Conservation statusFAO (2007): not at risk[1]: 67 
Country of originItaly
DistributionValle d'Aosta
StandardMIPAAF (in Italian)
Usedual-purpose: milk and beef
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    550–650 kg
  • Female:
    450–550 kg
Height
  • Male:
    130–135 cm
  • Female:
    120–125 cm
Coatblack-pied
Horn statushorned in both sexes
  • Cattle
  • Bos (primigenius) taurus

The Valdostana Pezzata Nera is an Italian breed of cattle from Valle d'Aosta region in north-western Italy. It is black-pied, with short horns. It is one of three regional breeds in the area, the others being the Valdostana Castana and the Valdostana Pezzata Rossa. Like them, it derives from inter-breeding of various local breeds and types of cattle. It appears to have been most influenced by the Swiss Fribourgeoise and Hérens breeds, which came into the Valle d'Aosta over the Great St. Bernard Pass. The Valdostana Pezzata Nera is a dual-purpose breed, raised mainly for milk, but also for meat. Management is normally transhumant: the cattle are stabled only in winter, and spend the summer months on the mountain pastures of the Alps.

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