Giovanni Santicciolo, farmer:

“My animals are as family”

The Chianina is a special breed, but without the farmers, this breed wouldn't be what it is. Thanks to their good care and qualitative feeding, this animal provides unique meat supply.

Marino Trettel: "The work is less
exhausting than in former days"

“Not as in former days"

Name : Marino Trettel
Number of cows : 40 cows, 60 calves and 1 bull
Names : Registered in the herdbook of the genetic centre of Perugia.
Family company : Marino works together with his two sons, his wife and his brother.

“I'm from Trentino, near Venice . There was little work, even now the region has to cope with serious economic problems. Therefore I moved to the Valdichiana after the war. But even here it has not always been easy. Purchasing machines is for example very expensive. But they make the work less exhausting and hard. We have a special machine to mix the food of the animals. In former days, the meal of the animals consisted only of hay and fresh grass. Nowadays they get a mix of hay, straw, corn, grains and flour. You can't live from the profits of a little farm, that's why we also cultivate olives and grapes. But I think it's an honour that I can work with the Chianina.”

Emilio Massi: "The future of the
Chianina is ensured"

“The animals don't mind holidays ”

Name : Emilio Massi
Number of cows : about 30
Names : They all have a name. I used to know them by heart but not anymore.
Family company : Emilio works together with his wife.

“Actually my work is very ordinary, although I have to work on sun- and holidays. My animals don't mind holidays . Luckily, the pressure of work has dropped a lot since the introduction of machines. I also cultivate grapes to make the wine Nobile. The future of the Chianina is ensured, but the future of the farms is uncertain . We will see what the future brings.”

Albertina Santicciolo: "Now I'm my own boss"

“Harder than an office job”

Name : Giovanni Santicciolo
Number of cows : 14 cows, 11 calves
Names : Maria, Mara, Ida and lots of others…
Family company : Giovanni bought the company in 1957. He gets help from his wife and son.

“In the times of the mezzadria, I was a farmer in service of a tenant. Now I'm my own boss. The work is less hard as it used to be, but it is harder than for example an office job. The stables have remained the same all those years, but the quality of the meat and the breed has evolved. The animals are being selected and receive better feeding. I love to work with animals ; I see them as my family. Nobody knows what the future of the Chianina will bring. Today it's war, tomorrow it's peace. But I think that the future of the farms looks brighter .”

Massimo Donini: "This is our real passion"

“Our animals are for rent”

Name: Pier Luigi Donini en zoon Massimo Donini
Number of cows: 6
Names: Valentino, Pallino, Barrone, Capitano, Bellino, Valentino
Family company: for 4 years

“ We are professional butchers , but this is our real passion, though . Before and after work, we pass by and we easily work here for two hours a day. Our animals are for rent, they are exhibited on popular festivals for example. In this way we can show the people how the Chianina cattle were used in days past . On request, we tackle the animals completely. We don't breed the cows for the meat . When they are too old, we bring them to the slaughterhouse and eat them. The meat is less tender however and has a spicy flavour because the animals our older.”

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