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info@grigioalpina.it
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NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF BREEDERS OF GREY ALPINE CATTLE
ASSOCIAZIONE NAZIONALE ALLEVATORI BOVINI RAZZA
GRIGIO ALPINA
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Characteristics
and production
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CHARACTERISTICS
The Grey Alpine / Grauvieh
is a typical breed of mountain cattle that gives excellent production
of milk and meat. The animals are of medium size and weight
and have a correct locomotor apparatus with very strong hooves.
They are rustic, frugal, have a strong instinct for finding
their own food, and are able to convert even coarse vegetation
efficiently. The Grey Alpine / Grauvieh
is a breed with long life expectancy and excellent fertility.
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- MILK
The quality of milk produced by the Grey
Alpine Breed / Grauvieh makes it suitable both for
transformation into cheese and for direct consumption. Among the
Italian mountain cattle breeds, the Grey
Alpine / Grauvieh has the best milk quality-quantity
ratio, providing larger quantities of useful matter.
Functional checks carried out in 2007 gave an average
production of 5,150 kg of milk with 3.72% fat and 3.36% of protein.
This production should be regarded as decidedly good, taking account
of the medium size and weight of the animals and of the non-intensive
breeding farm conditions.
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AVERAGE PRODUCTION IN 2009
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closed lactations |
milk
kg
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fat
%
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proteins
%
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1,542 |
4,228
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3.74 |
3.44
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Second
calving
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1,216 |
4,865
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3.70
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3.40
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Third
calving or more
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3,069 |
5,189
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3.66
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3.32
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All
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5,827 |
4,867
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3.69
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3.36
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One of the main aims
of selection is to maximise the quantity of milk produced without
reducing the fat and proteins. To achieve these aims the mothers
and fathers of bulls are selected on the basis of a special Milk
Quality Index, among other factors. Attention is also paid to the
qualitative composition of the milk: the genotype of the k-casein
and ß-lacto globulin fractions of all reproducers are determined.
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MEAT
The Grey Alpine / Grauvieh
has good "weight gaining" qualities. This is especially
marked among medium-to-heavy bullocks, which have an average
daily gain of about 1,200 g, very good carcass shape characteristics,
production on slaughter of around 58% and excellent meat quality.
Even cows at the end of their careers sell very well on local
markets.
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