CATTLE: Romagnola

Country of Origin: Emilia-Romagna region, Northern Italy. 

Status: 

International:  Good - about 10,000 in Italy - numbers falling dramatically in their homelands since the early 1950's. However some sent to Scotland in the early 1970’s, and now also found in Great Britain, Ireland, North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, Namibia, South Africa. 

Arrived in Australia: 1970's.

Photo: Romangnola cattle, by Tiziano Rossano Mainieri; Wiki,

Population in Australia: query sent 21/08/2022

History: Ancient breed of the area, descended from earlier Bos species.

Traits: Once draught and beef. Now beef.  Large animals: bulls 1.200 -1.500 kg. Cows 600-900 kg. Heavily muscled.
 

Black skin, black hooves and nose. White to grey coat. Black/dark grey tail tassle.

Lovely elegant horns like many old draught breeds, white with black tips - sweep up into an open lyre shape - but poll lines seem to be taking over.

The beef is highly praised for being tender, is finely grained, a light rosy colour and well marbled. Low cholesterol - proved in lab tests. Despite their size the meat is lean with fat mostly as marbling.

Early maturity and rapid growth - at 20 plus months weight is almost that of a mature adult. Dress out to 62-64%.

Organisation: Romagnola Breeders Society (Australia)

Notes: Upgrade system properly run here; keeps breed safe. There are two crosses, named Brahmagnola and Romangus by the Romagnola Society for marketing purposes -  upgrades, not new breeds..

Photo: "A statue of a Romagnola bull located near O'Shanesy Park at the intersection of Lower Dawson Road and Jellicoe Street in the suburb of Allenstown in Rockhampton, Queensland. The statue was officially unveiled by the Mayor of Rockhampton City Council, Jim McRae on 13 April 1997 to commemorate the World Romagnola Congress, which was held in Rockhampton as part of the triennial Beef Australia expo.." Photo by RegionalQueenslander on Wiki.

 

Page by Janet Lane
August 2022