About US

Key Aspects of the ANABORAPI Herd Book:

• Function: It documents genealogies, reproductive activities, and genetic improvement initiatives (Performance and Progeny Tests).
• Certifications: Provides official genealogical certificates and breed certificates (commonly known as the “R”), which verify ancestry, genetic values, and breed purity, often required for public subsidies.
• Selection Criteria: Focuses on traits like growth, muscularity, and calving ease (both calving ease of the calf and the cow’s ability to calve).
• Myostatin Management: Nearly all A.I. sires in the Herd Book are verified to carry 2 copies of the C313Y inactive myostatin gene, responsible for the breed’s signature double-muscling.
• WEBGAP: The association provides a web application (WEBGAP) for breeders to monitor their farm’s data, check pedigree sheets, and track reproductive status.
• Data Collection: Livestock inspectors update herd data monthly, recording births, morphology, and anomalies to maintain data accuracy.

The Herd Book is instrumental in preserving the heritage of the Piedmontese breed, which has evolved from a dual-purpose (beef and milk) animal into a high-end, specialized beef breed

ANABORAPI (National Association of Piedmontese Cattle Breeders) maintains the official Italian Herd Book for the Piedmontese breed, acting as the central database for pedigree, genetic data, and breed improvement. It manages genealogical records, morphological evaluations, and performance tests for 100% fullblood and registered Piedmontese cattle, ensuring genetic quality and identifying superior animals.

Anaborapi’s task is to promote the improvement, valorization, and dissemination of Piedmontese cattle.

This role is first and foremost carried out through the maintenance of the Breed Herd Book, a complex database that records and preserves the pedigrees of all registered animals and a detailed series of ancillary information, such as validation of breed characteristics, reproductive careers, morphological surveys, genetic values, etc

The second area of activity is the genetic improvement of the Piedmontese breed, which is achieved through the implementation of a modern Selective Breeding Program. It consists of surveys on registered animals, their statistical analysis, and the elaboration of genetic estimates, based on which genetically superior subjects are identified for reproduction through a series of subsequent tests, such as Performance and Progeny Test.

The valorization of the breed sees Anaborapi involved in the study and deepening of the productive, reproductive, and management processes that affect Piedmontese breeding. This primarily involves research work, carried out directly or in collaboration with university institutions, and subsequently the dissemination of the results obtained among breeders and technicians operating in the world of Piedmontese cattle.

The dissemination of the breed is pursued through promotional activities, exhibition events, and participation in agricultural and zootechnical fairs, both in Italy and abroad.

Managing genetic variability and limiting inbreeding are particularly important for small to medium-sized livestock populations, and even more so for indigenous genetic types (IGTs) threatened with extinction. Consequently, the project envisions a series of significant actions on these issues, including the development of services for breeders to properly manage reproduction. Inbreeding is routinely calculated for all selected breeds, and diversified measures are implemented to monitor and manage relationships among breeding stock, with the aim of identifying and promoting the use of “out-of-line” individuals.

Relationship analysis is performed using, alongside traditional genealogical information, new methods based on genomic information that allow for a more precise quantification of the genetic material actually shared between breeding stock. New mating strategies are being developed that take parentage and inbreeding into account, alongside genetic improvement objectives, among the selection criteria. The new tools have consequently been incorporated into the mating programs for technicians and breeders.