The Podolica cows are a triple-purpose strain of national cows in southern Italy that can be high in beef, draught and dairy functions.
The strain belongs to this Podolic set of gray cows and increased mostly from the regions of Puglia, Molise, Campania, Calabria, Basilicata, and Abruzzo.
However, the strain was formerly distributed throughout almost all of southern Italy and so much as Istria (now a part of Croatia).
From Istria, the Podolica cows breed is considered a distinct breed, named as cattle. In years past the Podolica cows breed has been used as a draught animal.
However, requirements for oxen disappeared. Along with the Podolica cows are being raised for milk and meat production functions.
Podolica Cattle Characteristics
Podolica cows are moderate-sized creatures with black colored skin. Their coat color is a black or grey switch. Cows and bulls have been different in coloration.
Even the bulls can be black, although the cows are light tending to the white and are darker. Like many gray cattle breeds, the calves are created wheat-colored. However, they become at around three weeks. Both cows and bulls have horns.
Their horns are half-moon mild and lyre-shaped and formed in bulls in cattle. The elevation of the bulls is approximately 145 cm in cattle and roughly 150 cm at the withers.
The cows approximately 650 pounds on weight. And the body burden of this Podolica bulls is approximately 800 kg.
Podolica Cattle Advantages
Formerly, the Podolica cows were retained and used for draught work. But they’re used for meat and milk manufacturing functions.
The Podolica cows are a really hardy and robust breed of cows. They are a strain that is rustic and therefore so are capable of living on terrain and on poor pasture.
The animals may use food resources that would not be utilized, such as wash stubble and maquis, and undergrowth. They have been used for purposes.
But following the Second World War, the need for oxen disappeared due to the mechanization of agriculture.
And the Podolica cows breed is principally employed for meat and milk production functions. The meat of those animals is regarded as of large quality, also includes a mark of grade.
Even the Podolica cows are milk manufacturers. Normally, they could create approximately 1500 kg of milk per lactation.
Podolica Cattle Facts
Precise roots of those Podolica cows aren’t known. However, it’s been indicated that it derives by cows of this Podolian steppe of southern Europe, as together with other European gray cattle breeds (perhaps caused Italy by invading Goths from the fifth century AD or from the Lombard king Agilulf from the sixth century).
A herd book for its strain was created in 1984. The population of those Podolica cows were projected at 100,000 minds in 2008.
Along with the complete number from the herd book has been 27,509 at the end of 2013. Now the breed is regarded as in danger by indiscriminate cross-breeding using bulls of meat cattle breeds. Read more details regarding the strain.
Podolica Cattle Breed Information
| Breed Name | Podolica |
| Other Name | None |
| Breed Purpose | Milk, meat, draft |
| Special Notes | Strong, hardy, good milkers, capable of surviving on harsh terrain and poor pasture |
| Breed Size | Medium |
| Weight Bulls | About 800 kg |
| Cows | About 650 kg |
| Climate Tolerance | All Climates |
| Coat Color | Grey, black switch |
| Horned | Yes |
| Milk Yield | Good |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country/Place of Origin | Italy |
