PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

- White coat (bulls may show grey shading on the neck and shoulders)

- Yellowish, black-tipped horns

- Tuft with brown-reddish shades

- The Bianca's most distinctive characteristics is a pink-coloured reversed V in the centre of the dark-grey wide muzzle

The Bianca Modenese

HISTORY

The breed is first documented in the mid-nineteenth century: its breeding - along with the breeding of the Reggiana Rossa (Reggiana red cow) - has always been tightly bound to the production of Parmigiano Reggiano.

Over the course of the 19th century, the range and numbers of Modenese white cows expanded rapidly in the provinces of Modena, Reggio Emilia, Bologna and Mantua. In the 1950s, the population was estimated at 230,000. Then began the demographic decline that still continues today, with the Bianca being progressively replaced by others, more productive imported breeds. Today, only a few hundred examples remain.

Caseificio Rosola

We are at the forefront in recovering, conserving and promoting this ancient breed. Indeed, to let it go extinct would be tantamount not only to losing a very important element of our culture and history, but also to renouncing to a raw material of indisputable quality.

20th century

In 2000 the Province of Modena - along with Slow Food and Associazione Provinciale Allevatori (Association for cattle breeding and genetic improvement) - began to promote a biodiversity project for the recovery and promotion of the Bianca Modenese breed.

Great results

On 4 April 2005 farmers obtained the first wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano made entirely from Bianca's milk. The wheel passed all quality checks with excellent results. In 2006, the Slow Food Presidium began safeguarding the breed - ad not just a product in particular.

THE CONSORTIUM

A few years later, several white cow farmers gathered in the Consorzio Valorizzazione Bovini Razza Bianca Modenese (Consortium for the promotion of the Bianca Modenese breed). They set the following objectives:

• - Protection and preservation of the breed and increase in the number of examples
• - Breeding development through the promotion of derived products
• - Promotion of healty, natural and respectful breeding and farming techniques
• - Promotion of research activities and of assitance and supervision for consortium partners.
• - Promotion of trademark regulations (all products derived from Bianca's milk shall bear the Consortium trademark)
• - Coordination and management of sale and marketing activities
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• The main aim of the Consortium is to start a distribution chain to guarantee high quality and honest prices to both producers and consumers.

REGULATIONS FOR BIANCA'S MILK PRODUCTION

Cows must be fed with natural, GMO-free products. Silage, fooder and food whose preservation requires PH variation are not allowed. "Unifeed" feeding technique is not allowed. Integrations with minerals and vitamins are allowed under veterinary prescription.