Valdarnese

Valdarnese
	Cock bird
Conservation status	Recovering
Country of origin	Italy
Distribution	Upper Valdarno, Tuscany
Traits
Weight	Male: 2.9–3.3 kg; Female: 2.0–2.5 kg;
Skin color	yellow
Egg color	ivory white
Comb type	single
Classification
	Chicken ; Gallus gallus domesticus;

Last updated January 11, 2024

The Valdarnese, also referred to as Valdarnese Bianca, Valdarno Bianca or Pollo del Valdarno, is a breed of large white chicken from the upper Valdarno, the valley of the Arno river, in Tuscany, central Italy. It became virtually extinct in the 20th century, but the population is recovering. It is a different breed from the Valdarno chicken, which originates in the lower part of the Valdarno, and is black.

History

The Valdarnese chicken takes its name from the Valdarno, the valley of the Arno river. It was in the past extensively raised in the upper part of the Arno valley which runs south-east from Florence towards Arezzo, in the comuni of Montevarchi, San Giovanni Valdarno and Terranuova Bracciolini in the heart of the valley, and neighbouring comuni including Bucine, Castelfranco di Sopra, Cavriglia, Figline Valdarno, Laterina, Loro Ciuffenna and Pergine Valdarno.^[1]

The first description of the white chickens of the Valdarno is that of Giuseppe Licciardelli in 1899.^[2] Luigi Pochini (1900, 1905) recommends the Valdarno breed above all others as suitable for both small- and large-scale rearing, for its rapid growth and the maternal instinct of the hens, but notes that it requires space and does not adapt well to close confinement. He illustrates four colour varieties, black, white, buff and cuckoo, and notes that the black and the white are the most common.^[3] The Valdarno breed was also described by Ferruccio Faelli in 1905.^[4]

Various examples of white Valdarnese chickens were exhibited in Cremona and Varese in the 1950s. In the following years the Valdarnese became the subject of extended and heated discussion of its authenticity, with critics maintaining that its high productivity was due to hybrid vigour. It also had supporters, and a breed association was formed in 1955. Studies of the Valdarnese by Raffaello Quilici, director of the Stazione Sperimentale di Pollicoltura (experimental poultry-breeding station) of Rovigo from 1957, led to the first scientific description. The collapse of the traditional mezzadria system in the 1960s caused a rapid decline in breed numbers, aggravated both by the growth of intensive methods of poultry-farming and by competition from the White Leghorn breed, of which chicks incubated in northern Italy were readily available. The breed association closed in 1964, and the Valdarnese continued to decline through the later twentieth century until it had virtually disappeared.^[1]

The risk of extinction of the breed was recognised in the 1990s, and the Conservatorio delle Razze Avicole in Pericolo di Estinzione (conservation centre for avian breeds in danger of extinction) of the Veneto region began a repopulation programme.^[5]^[6] When the Conservatorio closed in 2001, the remaining breeding stock was transferred to the Valdarno area. This stock formed the basis for a project for the recovery and protection of the breed launched by the Agenzia Regionale per lo Sviluppo e l'Innovazione nel Settore Agricolo-Forestale, a part of the Tuscan regional administration for agriculture.

The Valdarnese is not included in the official standard of the Federazione Italiana Associazioni Avicole, the federation of Italian poultry associations, which is the national authority governing poultry breeding in Italy.^[7] It is, however, recognised by the Regione Toscana, the regional administration of Tuscany, which publishes the breed standard. A breed register is held by the Associazione Provinciale Allevatori, or provincial breeders' association, of Arezzo.^[6]

Breed numbers remain low. A study published in 2007 used a figure of approximately 1200 for the total breeding stock, of which approximately 300 were cocks.^[8]

Characteristics

The Valdarnese is white, with some tendency to straw-colour on the neck and back allowable in cocks. The legs are orange-yellow, and the skin is yellow. The comb and wattles are large and blood-red; the comb has five or six points. The ear-lobes are creamy yellow with some red veining. Average weight is 2.9–3.3 kg (6.5–7.5 lb) for cocks, 2.0–2.5 kg (4.5–5.5 lb) for hens. The eggs are white and should weigh 58–70 g.^[6]

Uses

The Valdarnese is raised principally for its meat, which is firm and tasty, and notably different from that produced by intensive farming methods. Approximately 6000 birds are slaughtered per year.^[9]

Hens tend to become broody, and are poor layers;^[9] they lay an average of 135 eggs per year.^[6]

Related Research Articles

The Ancona is a breed of chicken which originated in the Marches, region of Italy, but which was bred to its present type mainly in the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century. It is named after the city of Ancona, capital of the Marche. It is popular in Britain and the United States, but uncommon in Italy; an initiative to re-establish it in its native area and preserve its biodiversity was launched in 2000. There are also Ancona bantams.

The Chianina is an Italian breed of large white cattle. It was formerly principally a draught breed; it is now raised mainly for beef. It is the largest and one of the oldest cattle breeds in the world. The bistecca alla fiorentina is produced from its meat.

The Italian Heavy Draft, or Rapid Heavy Draft, is a breed of draft horse from Italy. The full Italian name of the breed is Cavallo Agricolo Italiano da Tiro Pesante Rapido, "Italian Rapid Heavy Draft Farm Horse", and the abbreviation TPR ) is often used.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, Italian: Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste or MASAF, is an Italian government department.

The Sarcidano, Italian: Cavallo del Sarcidano, is a rare Italian breed of semi-feral horse originating from the Altopiano del Sarcidano in the comune of Laconi, in Oristano Province of the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. It is one of the fifteen indigenous horse "breeds of limited distribution" recognised by the AIA, the Italian breeders' association.

The Bianca di Saluzzo is a traditional breed of chicken originating in the Piedmont region of north-western Italy. It takes its name either from the town of Saluzzo, in the province of Cuneo, or from the former Marquisate of Saluzzo, which approximately coincides with its area of distribution. It may also be called the Bianca di Cavour, after the nearby town of Cavour, in the province of Turin.

The Bionda Piemontese is a traditional Italian dual-purpose breed of chicken. It originates in the Piedmont region of north-western Italy, from which it takes its name. It may also be called the Bionda di Cuneo, after the comune of Cuneo or the surrounding province; Bionda di Villanova, after the comune of Villanova d'Asti in the province of Asti; Rossa delle Crivelle, after a village near Buttigliera d'Asti; or Nostralina.

The Ermellinata di Rovigo is a modern Italian breed of dual-purpose chicken. It originates in the city of Rovigo in the Veneto region of north-eastern Italy, from which it takes its name. It was created between 1959 and 1965, principally from Sussex and Rhode Island Red parentage.

The Robusta Lionata is a modern Italian breed of dual-purpose chicken originating in the city of Rovigo in the Veneto region of north-eastern Italy. It was created between 1959 and 1965, by cross-breeding Buff Orpingtons with the commercial strain known in Italy as "White America".

The Robusta Maculata is a modern Italian dual-purpose breed of chicken. It originates in the city of Rovigo in the Veneto region of north-eastern Italy, where it was created between 1959 and 1965 by cross-breeding Buff Orpingtons with the commercial strain known in Italy as "White America".

The Romagnola is a traditional Italian breed of dual-purpose chicken from the Emilia-Romagna region. It was formerly widespread in central Italy, but in the late twentieth century came close to extinction. In early 2012 the population was recovering and the breed was awaiting official recognition by the Federazione Italiana Associazioni Avicole, the federation of Italian poultry associations.

The Pépoi or Pepoi is a rustic Italian breed of small dual-purpose chicken from north-eastern Italy, particularly the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions. It is not officially recognised as a breed in Italy, but is being considered for recognition.

The Mugellese, also known as Mugginese, is a rustic dual-purpose breed of small chicken or bantam from Tuscany, in central Italy. It takes its name from the historic Mugello region to the north-east of Florence. It is not officially recognised as a breed in Italy, but is being considered for recognition.

The Padovana or Padovana dal gran ciuffo is an ancient Italian breed of small crested and bearded chicken. It originates in, and is named for, the city and surrounding province of Padua, in the Veneto region of north-eastern Italy. Despite continuing discussion surrounding its true origins, it is recognised in Italy as an indigenous Italian breed.

The Polverara, also known as Schiatta (Italian) or S'ciata (Venetian), is an ancient breed of crested chicken from the area of Polverara in the province of Padua, in the Veneto region of north-eastern Italy.

The Valdarno is an Italian breed of black dual-purpose chicken. It originates in, and is named for, the lower part of the Valdarno, the valley of the Arno river, in Tuscany in central Italy. It became virtually extinct in the twentieth century, but the population is recovering. It is a quite different breed from the Valdarnese, which originates in the upper Valdarno, and is white.

The Siciliana is an ancient Italian breed of chicken from the Mediterranean island of Sicily. It is notable for its unusual double or rose comb, for the early age at which birds reach maturity, and for the unusual shape of the eggs. The Sicilian Buttercup, bred in Australia, Great Britain and the North America, derives from it, but its long separation from the original stock has led to marked differences between the two.

The Bianca Monticellana or Capra Bianca di Monte San Biagio is an indigenous breed of domestic goat from Lazio in central Italy. It takes its name from the town and comune of Monte San Biagio, which until 1862 was known as Monticelli. It is raised in the provinces of Frosinone and Rome, on the Monti Aurunci, the Monti Ausoni, the Monti Lepini, the Monti delle Mainarde in the Val Comino and on the Monti Prenestini. The area of distribution is very similar to that of the Ciociara Grigia, from which it is however quite distinct. The Bianca Monticellana breed descends from a flock of about 700 head of white goats brought to Monticelli from Villa Latina in about 1850 by the Minchella family of shepherds. It is probably the same breed described as "Bianca Romana" in the early years of the twentieth century, and not subsequently documented.

The Garfagnina or Garfagnana is an indigenous breed of domestic goat from the mountainous Garfagnana area north of Lucca, in Tuscany in central Italy, from which it takes its name. It is raised in that area, in the comuni of Camporgiano, Careggine, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Fosciandora, Minucciano, Pieve Fosciana, Vergemoli and Villa Collemandina; in the comuni of Bagni di Lucca, Barga, Coreglia Antelminelli and Fabbriche di Vallico in the Media Valle del Serchio; and in the historic area of the Controneria, to the north-east of Bagni di Lucca. It may also be known as the Capra della Media Valle del Serchio or as the Capra della Controneria. It is probably the last remnant of the Apennine type of goat of Emilia, Liguria and Tuscany.

The Capestrina is an indigenous breed of domestic goat from the southern part of Lazio, in southern central Italy. It originates in the provinces of Frosinone, Latina and Rome, on the spines of the Monti Aurunci, the Monti Ausoni and the Monti Lepini. It is also raised in the Monti delle Mainarde and in the Val Comino, and on the Monti Prenestini. Its geographical range is similar to that of the Bianca Monticellana and the Ciociara Grigia; it is however usually found on higher and less accessible terrain than those breeds.

References

1 2 Alessio Zanon ([s.d.). Valdarnese (in Italian). Il Pollaio del Re. Accessed January 2012.
↑ Giuseppe Licciardelli (1899). Il libro dei volatili domestici ... Opera illustrata da 24 ricche tavole in cromolitografia (in Italian) Milano: Ulrico Hoepli.
↑ Luigi Pochini (1905). Avicoltura pratica 2nd ed. (in Italian) Firenze: Giovanni Fratini, pages 46–49 [1st ed.: 1900].
↑ Ferruccio Faelli (1905). Animali da cortile: polli, faraone, tacchini, fagiani, anitre, oche, cigni, colombi, tortore, conigli, cavie, furetto (in Italian). Milano: Ulrico Hoepli, page 74.
↑ Conservatorio delle Razze Avicole in Pericolo di Estinzione (in Italian). Regione Veneto: Consorzio per lo sviluppo avicunicolo e della selvaggina del Veneto. Accessed January 2012.
1 2 3 4 Manuela Gualtieri (editor) (2006). L'allevamento della Valdarnese bianca (in Italian) Firenze: Agenzia Regionale per lo Sviluppo e l'Innovazione nel Settore Agricolo-Forestale. "Raising the white Valdarnese".
↑ FIAV (1996). Standard Italiano delle Razze avicole (in Italian). Casatenovo, Lecco: Tipografia Artigiana.
↑ A. Spalona, H. Ranvig, K. Cywa-Benko, A. Zanon, A. Sabbioni, I. Szalay, J. Benková, J. Baumgartner and T. Szwaczkowski (2007) Population size in conservation of local chicken breeds in chosen European countries – Populationsgrößen in Erhaltungszuchtprogrammen für einheimische Hühnerrassen in ausgewählten Ländern Europas. Archiv für Geflügelkunde. 71 (2): 49–55. Stuttgart: Eugen Ulmer. ISSN 0003-9098
1 2 Scheda identificativa del prodotto: Pollo del Valdarno (in Italian). Elenco dei prodotti agroalimentari tradizionali: Regione Toscana (D.Lgs. n° 173/98, Art. 8 -Decreto Mi.P.A.F. n° 350/99). Regione Toscana: Agenzia Regionale per lo Sviluppo e l'Innovazione nel settore Agricolo-forestale. Archived 26 August 2014.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[zanon-1] 1 2 Alessio Zanon ([s.d.). Valdarnese (in Italian). Il Pollaio del Re. Accessed January 2012.

[licc-2] Giuseppe Licciardelli (1899). Il libro dei volatili domestici ... Opera illustrata da 24 ricche tavole in cromolitografia (in Italian) Milano: Ulrico Hoepli.

[pochini-3] Luigi Pochini (1905). Avicoltura pratica 2nd ed. (in Italian) Firenze: Giovanni Fratini, pages 46–49 [1st ed.: 1900].

[faelli-4] Ferruccio Faelli (1905). Animali da cortile: polli, faraone, tacchini, fagiani, anitre, oche, cigni, colombi, tortore, conigli, cavie, furetto (in Italian). Milano: Ulrico Hoepli, page 74.

[cons-5] Conservatorio delle Razze Avicole in Pericolo di Estinzione (in Italian). Regione Veneto: Consorzio per lo sviluppo avicunicolo e della selvaggina del Veneto. Accessed January 2012.

[gualt-6] 1 2 3 4 Manuela Gualtieri (editor) (2006). L'allevamento della Valdarnese bianca (in Italian) Firenze: Agenzia Regionale per lo Sviluppo e l'Innovazione nel Settore Agricolo-Forestale. "Raising the white Valdarnese".

[fiav-7] FIAV (1996). Standard Italiano delle Razze avicole (in Italian). Casatenovo, Lecco: Tipografia Artigiana.

[spalona-8] A. Spalona, H. Ranvig, K. Cywa-Benko, A. Zanon, A. Sabbioni, I. Szalay, J. Benková, J. Baumgartner and T. Szwaczkowski (2007) Population size in conservation of local chicken breeds in chosen European countries – Populationsgrößen in Erhaltungszuchtprogrammen für einheimische Hühnerrassen in ausgewählten Ländern Europas. Archiv für Geflügelkunde. 71 (2): 49–55. Stuttgart: Eugen Ulmer. ISSN 0003-9098

[regione-9] 1 2 Scheda identificativa del prodotto: Pollo del Valdarno (in Italian). Elenco dei prodotti agroalimentari tradizionali: Regione Toscana (D.Lgs. n° 173/98, Art. 8 -Decreto Mi.P.A.F. n° 350/99). Regione Toscana: Agenzia Regionale per lo Sviluppo e l'Innovazione nel settore Agricolo-forestale. Archived 26 August 2014.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]