The Protected Geographical Indication PGI brand for the "double-muscled" Piedmontese Cattle is exclusive to all meats obtained from the butchering of male and female bovines of the Piedmontese breed that are registered in the relative Breed Registry (or bred from parents both registered in the Breed Registry) more than 12 months in age and bred and fattened, from weaning to slaughter, in the defined production area.
The "double-muscled" Piedmontese Cattle are characterised by their superior weight compared to normal cattle; they render a better yield to slaughter and stripping of the meat and a reduced state of fattening of the carcass. In fact, this cattle differs from other bovines both for their anatomical aspects as well as their physiological features.
How it is made
After weaning (between 3 and 8 months of age) and until slaughter, the bovines are fed based mainly on fodder of which at least 70% comes from natural fields made up of spontaneous essences in the production area and/or cultivated fields made up predominantly of grasses and legumes; the fodder component is integrated by a part of feed, either simple or composite, the cereal component of which also obtained in the production area must make up at least 60% of the total of the components of the feed itself.
Protected Geographical Indication double-muscled Piedmontese Cattle bovine meat may be retailed freshly cut, pre-wrapped or pre-packaged. For the retail of cut or pre-wrapped meat, the labelling elements must be clearly and visibly displayed in the area of the sales counter.
Sectioned meat must be packaged in the following ways: pre-packaged, vacuum-packed, modified atmosphere. It is only sold in sealed, labelled packages including all the lawfully required information. Products can only be packaged in authorised sectioning laboratories under control of the established organisation that grants use of the Protected Geographical Indication logo on each single package.
History
What makes the double-muscled Piedmontese Cattle so unique is a natural genetic mutation that was discovered for the first time in 1886 in the Council of Guarene, in the province of Cuneo; initially observed with suspicion, this morphological peculiarity would later become one of the main purposes behind selecting the animals, determining the progressive confirmation of the double-muscle type as the most important and popular of the Piedmontese breed.
Interesting features
The double-muscle character that distinguishes the animals depends on the action of a specific gene found on chromosome 2, known as the myostatin gene; because of this mutation, the gene is no longer able to function regularly in the production of myostatin, leading to extraordinary muscular development of the animals - a characteristic that is particularly clear in the hind quarters.
This characteristic is accompanied by reduced lipid content, a high protein level and a particularly bright colour that makes double-muscled Piedmontese Cattle meat unique and particularly esteemed.
Labelling
The packaging must display, as well as the elements provided for by the current law in force, the double-muscled Piedmontese Cattle brand or the logo of the denomination, the wording Protected Geographical Indication also shortened to PGI and the symbol of the European Union.
The label must also show the adult bovine product name as required by the current national law in force.
The following further information is also allowed: traceability code; breeding/fattening company; slaughter date; sex of the animal.
European community registration
Commission implementing regulation (EU) 2017/703 dated 5th April 2017.
Published in OJEU - L 104 dated 20th April 2017.
