Vianesa
The Vianesa is a traditional Spanish breed of cattle originating in the autonomous community of Galicia in north-western Spain. It is named either for the municipality of Viana do Bolo in the province of Ourense in south-eastern Galicia, close to the border with northern Portugal, or for the comarca of Viana in which that municipality lies. With the Cachena, the Caldelana or Caldelá, the Frieiresa and the Limiana or Limiá, it forms part of the grouping of dark brown cattle known as the Morena Galega or Morenas del Noroeste (roughly 'dark-browns of the north-west'). It is an endangered breed: in 2023 it was listed in DAD-IS as 'at risk/endangered-maintained'. The population in 2022 was just under 3000 head in 56 farms, almost all in Galicia; about 80 cattle were at a farm in Castilla y León.
| Life Span | 18-22 years |
| Weight | 450-900 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Vianesa
Finding a responsible Vianesa 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 Vianesa. 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 Vianesas 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 Vianesa breeder?
Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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