PIEMONTESE EN ARGENTINA 2012

30000 years ago, between the Alps and the Apennines, up to the end of the Tanaro and Dora Baltea valleys, in a geographical pocket known as Piedmont (Italy), there lived an "Aurochs" type cattle. Some 15000 years later, Zebu herds from Eurasia crossed the Carpathians and the Balkans, through Pakistan. They came into the gorge of the Danube and they arrived in the Western world. They crossed Friuli and eventually mingled with the indigenous Piedmont Aurochs.

Once established, the breed was confined by the valley and mountains so it achieved an extraordinary purity. Piedmonts can be seen, therefore, as a Tauroindicus breed which has undergone an ecological experience for nearly 25000 in a very peculiar niche in the NW of Italy.
   In Argentina, "La Marescialla" (Ing. Elio Roffredo) imported the first frozen embryos in 1989 and entered them in the Sociedad Rural Argentina (SRA). Piedmonts are reputed world-wide for their outstanding muscling. Black hide and white skin, it withstands flies and cattle tick, heat and cold.
   Small head, short horns, black mucous membrane. While the female is gentle and very white, the male has exceptional muscles, with waning brownish or grayish hair on the blades.
   The male has a strong libido which contrasts sharply with its amenability. Its feet (slightly out stepping, by Argentine standards) respond to perfection in tough and hilly terrain.
   Bare underline, no "belly", short sheath, high tail setting, rear end which extends from very high up to low down, is a proof of a very different phenotype from that of all known breeds to date, mainly on account of its high quality beef.
   Genetic selection in Argentina aimed at an animal which could pass down the following traits to its progeny: high feed efficiency, precocity, adaptability and calving ease.
   Genetic evaluation Under agreements signed with A.Na.Bo.Ra.Pi. (Associazione Nazionale Allevatori Bovini di Razza Pismontese) phenotypes and genotypes must be protected and inspected. The National University of Central Buenos Aires Province and the University of Torino (Italy) are part of this agreement too. Data on production, progeny and efficiency in industry crossbreeding are gathered and processed. This program called C.C.C. (Grade up Commercial Crossings) uses the excellent conditions of Argentine general herds, mostly British, already adapted and very numerous, and contributes Piedmont sires. Traditional pastoral farming is maintained, with the addition of precocity and quality for industrial crossing. A very strict selection process led to Piedmont steers: skinny, lower, long, bare, able to "stamp" notorious rear ends, more loin, less bones and smaller heads on crossings. It even lowers frames in some dam breed in order to improve feed efficiency.
   The target is a long and precocious calf in order to obtain a steer which will yield more beef cuts in less time and with no calving risks.

   Herd Book Herd Books are closed in order to protect breed purity which guarantees hybrid value in crossings. They are in charge of the Sociedad Rural Argentina (SRA; Argentine Rural Society). A.Na.Bo.Ra.Pi. carries out an inspection every year: this association supervises development, selection and grade up of Piedmonts world-wide. It works in all 34 countries where Piedmonts are reared and there are breeders’ associations which protect the breed.
   The only genetics which is marketed comes from pure breed animals, with tested progeny and proven heritability traits. 32 different lines have been developed in Argentina.
   Zootschnics improvement The Association (CRIAPI) has a Herd Book where crossings are entered, duly identified by the Association. It certifies its origin at slaughter point and, through C.C.C. programmers, guarantees consistent standards for exports: consistent quality and characteristics such as color, tenderness, excellent taste and low levels of cholesterol.
   On account of their precocity, these animals can attain an ideal finished weight in a shorter time than others. Slaughter is supervised by CRIAPI which warrants origin and labeling of Asprocarne Piemontese for animals within the C.C.C, programmer.
   Exports Beef is exported to Germany, Holland and Belgium since 1995. They are insufficient to meet the needs of the market. Cut parameters are much higher than usual.
   Piedmont beef is reputed all over the world for its low fat, pink color and very low cholesterol content. Flavour and traditional genetics of Argentine beef are further assets which account for a successful crossing.