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Podolica

Podolica

The Podolica is an Italian breed of domestic cattle. It belongs to the Podolic group of grey cattle. It is raised in the southern Italian regions of Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise and Puglia. It was formerly distributed throughout most of mainland Italy and as far as Istria, Croatia, and where it is now regarded as a separate breed, the Istrian or Boškarin. The Podolica was in the past bred principally as a draught animal; with the mechanisation of agriculture following the Second World War, demand for draught oxen disappeared, and the Podolica is now raised for meat and – to a lesser extent – for milk.

Life Span 18-22 years
Weight 450-900 kg

What to Know Before Buying a Podolica

Finding a responsible Podolica 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 Podolica. 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 Podolicas 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.

Looking for a Podolica breeder?

Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.

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