Piedmontese cattle and COALVI
Fassone, selective breeding and traceability: the people and systems behind Piedmontese beef.
A cattle breed rooted in Piedmont
The Piedmontese breed has a long association with the region’s farms. Cattle once served several purposes, including field work and milk production, before breeding increasingly focused on meat.
Fassone refers to the distinctive muscular development seen in some Piedmontese cattle. It is not a generic name for every animal raised in the region.
Guarene, 1886
COALVI’s historical account describes a calf with unusually developed muscles born on a farm in Guarene in 1886. Subsequent breeding reinforced this characteristic, later associated through genetics with myostatin.
Guarene is also the village where my roots lie, giving this chapter of agricultural history a personal resonance.
COALVI and traceability
COALVI was established in Bra on 23 July 1984 to promote Piedmontese cattle and traceable meat. Its quality mark, voluntary labelling schemes and other certifications have distinct meanings.
The geographical indication “Vitelloni Piemontesi della coscia” applies to a defined product and area under its specification. Not all meat from Piedmontese cattle automatically qualifies.
COALVI ↗