It is said that the ancestors of the Romagnola came to Italy in the fourth
century with the Goths who migrated from Asia Minor into the fertile Romagna
area along the west coast of the Adriatic Sea. These wanders brought all
their possessions with them, including their cattle.

It is also said that the origin of the Romagnola breed were the Bos Taurus
Macroceros (long-horned aurochs) that were native to the steppes of Eastern
and Central Europe. But modern DNA testing has shown that all the breeds in
the Romagna area have an underlying strain of Bos Indicus in their makeup.
Probably, the Goths, in wanderings, at some time, passed through Northern
India where their cattle interbred with a cattle native to that area. In all
likelihood, those native cattle were the ancestors of the modern Nellore
strain of Indu cattle.

This happy coincidence gave Romagnola heritage a hardiness and an ability to
adapt to harsh climatic conditions that far exceeds that of cattle of
straight Bos Taurus (European) lineage.

Manifestations of their Bos Indicus lineage include the ability of the
Romagnola to sweat and to secrete an oily fluid from their sebaceous glands
that is useful in repelling insects. Like their conventional Bos Indicus
cousins, they also have a muscle network in their hides that allows them to
twitch their skins, also handy for removing biting flies and mosquitoes.

As a result of the hardiness and adaptability handed down from their Bos
Indicus ancestors, you will see Romagnola out grazing in the heat of the day
while Bos Taurus cattle are shaded up. You will see them living, breeding,
and prospering in hot, humid climates in which straight Bos Taurus breeds
have a difficult time surviving.

The black hide under their silver coats allows them to get along in cold
climates without snow-burned testes, and their hard black hooves allow them
to travel well in rough, rocky terrain. These are also very likely gifts
passed down from their Bos Indicus ancestors.

Think about it: These traits suit Romagnola to any area of the United
States. They can function well in the heat and humidity of the Gulf Coast
states and will prosper on the high dessert and mountain country of the
north, a breed for all climates and seasons.

The Bos Indicus strain has also had its effect on Romagnola females. They
give milk with a very high percentage of butter-fat. They have excellent
udders with perfectly-sized, well shaped teats and large pelvic areas for
ease of calving. They are protective mothers and become fertile at any early
age.

Yet Romagnola have neither the uncertain dispositions nor the crests, ears,
and sloping hip characteristics of many of the Indian cattle breeds. In
addition, they are more heavily muscled, a gift of their Bos Taurus
ancestors as well as a history of use as draft animals in Italy which put a
large quantity of muscle over the back and loin where the choice cuts of
beef are located. This combined with the fact that in Italy, they have been,
for more than a century, selected for their beef production capabilities,
has molded this breed into the ideal beef animal in the industry today.

As the American Beef Cattle Industry stands on the threshold of a new
century, most professional cattleman have come to the realization that we
must produce, grow, and market cattle that will produce beef with the eating
quality that will consistently satisfy the American consumer, our ultimate
customer. This is the only way our industry can restore its profitability
and regain the market share it has lost in recent years.

Now and in the future we must produce consistently high Yielding cattle
with Yield Grades in the one and two range, Choice or Select marbling at any
early age, and even more important, a built-in Genetic flavor and
tenderness.

And just as that realization dawned, a little known and, thus far,
unpromoted breed has emerged that, according to hard data, has just such
superior carcass qualities and the ability to pass them on to their
commercial offspring.

That breed is Romagnola , a breed of Italian origin that has been lying
undiscovered in the U.S. since 1972 in the hands of only a few producers.

With the industry's new awareness of the need for cattle with the superior
carcass quality, the timing of the emergence of the Romagnola into the
mainstream of the industry is perfect both for the breed and the cattle
business as a whole.

These cattle offer an entirely new opportunity at every level of the beef
cattle marketing chain, from seed stock producer to commercial calf
producers, to feeders and to packers to increase profits and to produce beef
with the consistent quality the industry so desperately needs.