Razza Rendena
Rendena Cattle
Named for the Trentino valley it has been kept in for centuries, and hardy enough for both hill and mountain grazing. Medium-small, chestnut brown going almost black in the bulls, with a pale line along the back, ivory hair inside the ears and fine horns, white at the base and black at the tip.
Designation
- Certification
- Slow Food Presidium
- Category
- Fresh meat and offal
Where it is made
the Val Rendena, Trento province
How it is made
It came to Trentino from Switzerland in the 18th century, when repeated rinderpest had emptied the byres and the herds had to be rebuilt. It took hold in the Val Rendena and on the Veneto's Asiago plateau and was the leading dairy breed of that country by the end of the 19th century. Numbers fell through the two wars and then by decree: a fascist law of 1942 banned keeping Rendena at all in favour of more productive breeds.