Chianina
A Breed With History

By Glen Klippenstein

The “seed” that is responsible for the cattle registered in the ACA was planted 2000 years ago. The Chianina breed that came before the Roman Empire has traits unique to the bovine species. The name originated in Central Italy in the province of Tuscany. The Chiana Valley, where grapes and the famous Chianti wines come from, is the home of Fullblood Chianina cattle.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s a gradual push for cattle with more growth, lean meat and less fat was developing into a full-fledged explosion for change. Multiple breeds from Europe (Continentals) began to be imported into Canada because they had the quarantine facilities to assure that European cattle diseases, including foot and mouth disease, wouldn’t come to North America.

The Canadian government con-trolled the whole situation and owned the first draft of bulls of the various Continental breeds. Chianina cattle came after the Simmentals and Limousins because the Canadian facilities could only handle so many animals at one time. When the “great white breed” from Italy came, there was a near panic for semen produced in a quarantined area in Italy that came to the United States and Canada, and for the Canadian cattleman who were able to obtain “permits” for European imports. The race for growth and lean meat was on in full force when the first “Exotic” calves hit the ground. They were really different and grew rapidly. The Chianina calves by “Diaceto” (the first semen imported) were just plain unbelievable! When mated to a 1000 pound Angus cow that milked well, the calving process was much easier than expected because of the slender shape, and the vitality to get up and nurse was amazing. However, the most amazing aspect was that the calves at weaning were nearly the size of their mother! Efficiency of red meat production was off the charts.

From 1971 through 1974, semen was only available for United States Chianina breeders. The sales for half-bloods were astonishing. It was such a whirlwind that may inferior cows were inseminated to bulls the breeders had never seen nor knew much about.

It was many of those inferior cows that caused this breed problems down the road. It is hard to pinpoint where this breed would be today if only the most problem-free and truly superior Fullblood bulls would have been mated to only the deserving end of the North American beef cow population. The results today would probably be absolutely astounding. In many ways breeding best to the best is what most discriminating breeders are doing today. There truly are a low percentage of inferior cows being mated to “Chi’ influenced bulls because the culling and selection process has been grueling. Chi breeders deserve resounding congratulations. Many breeders are calling our attention to be careful that we don’t dilute the Chianina genetics too much. Our breeders also know that there’s a balance between retaining those unique vigor, growth, extra carcass value and attractive-ness genes, with cattle that “look” the way many breeders today think they should look. We are in an era where too often too much favor is granted to cattle with too much needless waste in fat, guts, bone, hide and head. There’s a reason higher percentage Chi cattle dress and yield more and it is and will continue to be of increasing value to hold true to those economic traits.

Chianina genes quite probably offer the beef industry the greatest opportunity for flexibility to attain production goals and those dollar drivers that include maximum red meat yields with ultimate taste and satisfying eating experience.

All breeds have within their population cattle that do things better than their contemporaries in various traits and in various environments. It is also true that not all Chianina derivative cattle have outstanding carcass genes or extra long life spans or health and vigor superiority. Not even all of them are particularly attractive or good natured or easy calving. Not all are feed efficient beyond their peers, and not all adapt easy to hot or cold climates – but many of them do most of these things really well. It is a “Chi” breeders’ great fortune to have so much that’s good in place. All breeders need to do is identify the animals that do most things above average and delete the animals with “failing” grades and problem areas, and make a name for themselves with breeding cattle that are truly superior. The industry is eyed for problem-free, highly productive cattle that are “easy to look at.” What an opportunity we have!

History of the Chianina Breed
Chianina (pronounced Kee-a-nee-na) is one of the oldest breeds of cattle in the world. Originating in Central Italy, Chianina were initially introduced into the United States in 1971, when the first Chianina semen was imported. The first Chianina born in the U.S. was a black half-blood Chianina X Angus/Holstein bull calf born on January 31, 1972. Beginning in 1975, Italian Fullblood Chianina were exported from Canada into this country.

Composites
Chianina breeders have shown interest in "composite breeds" of Chianina. The first such registry program to be adopted by the ACA in 1976 was the Chiangus registry for black, polled/scurred Chianina X Angus cattle. Three more composite registry programs were started in 1986 - a Chiford registry for Chianina X Hereford and a Chimaine registry for Chianina X Maine-Anjou cattle, and a Red Chiangus registry.

Qualifications for registering Chi and Chi composites are as follows:

Chianina:
Either the sire or dam or both must be registered in the ACA Herdbook. They can be any color and horned, polled or scurred. If the sire or dam is an unregistered Chianina, the percentage of that parent is not figured in the calf's percentage.
Go to Chianina section in Registration Rules

Chiangus (CA):
A Chiangus is the result of the cross between a registered Chianina or Chiangus and Angus. They must be black and polled (or scurred). If there is another breed in their pedigree more than 6.25%, they can be registered as a Chiangus cross (CAX).
Go to Chiangus section in Registration Rules

Red Chiangus (RCA):
A Chiangus is the result of the cross between a registered Chianina or Chiangus and Angus. They must be black and polled (or scurred). If there is another breed in their pedigree more than 6.25%, they can be registered as a Chiangus cross (CAX).
Go to Red Chiangus section in Registration Rules

Chimaine (CM):
Chimaines are the result of the cross between a registered Chianina or Chimaine and a Maine-Anjou. They can be either horned, polled or scurred.
Go to Chimaine section in Registration Rules

Chiford (CF):
A Chiford is the result of the cross between a registered Chianina or Chiford and a Hereford. Chifords can be either horned or polled and can range in color from a pale fawn or cream to a dark red with a range from typical Hereford white markings to a solid red or reddish color pattern.
Go to Chiford section in Registration Rules