Aosta Black Pied
The Aosta Black Pied (Italian: Valdostana Pezzata Nera, French: Valdostaine pie noire) is an Italian breed of cattle from Aosta Valley region in north-western Italy. It is black-pied, with short horns. It is one of three regional breeds in the area, the others being the Aosta Chestnut and the Aosta Red Pied. Like them, it derives from inter-breeding of various local breeds and types of cattle. It appears to have been most influenced by the Swiss Fribourgeoise and Hérens breeds, which came into the Aosta Valley over the Great St. Bernard Pass. The Aosta Black Pied is a dual-purpose breed, raised mainly for milk, but also for meat. Management is normally transhumant: the cattle are stabled only in winter, and spend the summer months on the mountain pastures of the Alps.
| Life Span | 18-22 years |
| Weight | 450-900 kg |
What to Know Before Buying an Aosta Black Pied
Finding a responsible Aosta Black Pied breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells cattles commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Aosta Black Pied. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Aosta Black Pieds appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
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Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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