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"Red Cows" Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

"Red Cows" Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is branded with the only two trademarks authorized by ANABoRaRe on the wheel parts after 24 months of maturation and absolutely not before that date.

In addition to the trademark of the Consorzio Parmigiano Reggiano affixed at 12 months is firemarked the brand "vacche rosse" (red cows) only after a further expertise check effected at 2 years.
This is done for consumer's further protection.

"Red Cows" Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is sold to pubblic only after 2 years of maturation only in this way the organoleptic charateristics are exalted.

Parmesan cheese and butter

The origins of Reggio's Cattle Breed

The origins of Reggio's Cattle Breed are very ancient. As a matter of fact, some historical sources make it date back to the cattle which reached our country with the Barbarian invasions. They are still present in the areas of Eastern Europe from where originated those population of cattle breeds with common traits and features similar to the ones that we find now in Reggio's Breed. This cattle were diffused in Reggio's and Parma's territory seven centuries ago when we have the first certain information on that cheese which is today known as Parmesan cheese (Parmigiano Reggiano). Since then and up to now the destinies of the breed have been linked to this production; Reggio's Breed can thus get the title of the "mother" of the Parmesan cheese. The elements differentiating and characterising Reggio's breed are many: a good size animal, that is to say an animal whose size is slightly above the mean, with long trunk and distinct head and with an uniform red fur from which it gets the name of "red cow". For a long time it has been the main species bred in the province of Reggio Emilia and in the surounding areas of Parma and Modena. In the 50's 130,000 heads were bred but afterwards there was a period of decay due to the introduction of more productive breeds in term of milk quantity but not of milk quality. In 1982 the minimum consistence level was reached with 900 heads. In the past, when our red breed had also the task of supplying labour force in the fields, Reggio's breed was considered a breed with a triple task (mlk, meat and labour); today, after years of selective activity by breeders we can consider it only as siutable for the production of quality milk.