The Maremma cow
The Maremma cow is descended from Podolica stock, European breeds of gray cattle. Some scholars believed that this ancestor was the ancient Aurochs (Bos Taurus Primigenius), a wild bovine that went extinct in Poland in late 1627. It seems more likely, however, that this breed of cattle was already present in Italy in Neolithic times, as evidenced by some representations of long-horned cattle shown on a bronze plate from the 11th century B.C., now on display at the Archaeological Museum in Tarquinia.
Most likely this Maremma breed was also used in Roman times for work, as a source of meat and in the Joust of the Vaccines, the Roman version of bullfighting. Because of its endurance, the maremmana has also always been used for work in the fields, as evidenced in many 17th-century paintings.
The Maremma was characterized by a hostile environment, which is why over the centuries selection has resulted in strong breeds resistant to adversity. The Maremma cow is the epitome of this: rustic and frugal, extremely hardy it resists disease and parasites, knows how to defend itself against predators and is also very resistant to drought, grazing in every season on arid or swampy soils exploiting food resources that other cattle breeds would not be able to feed on.
It is thanks to feeding on wild grasses that grow on the Maremma soils that Maremma beef has a very intense and savory flavor that is accompanied by a high protein content and moderate lipid content, particularly suitable for anemic individuals and highly appreciated by gourmets so much so that it has joined the Slow Food presidia.
The appearance of the Maremma cow is also a peculiarity; once seen, it can hardly be mistaken for other breeds. Maremma cattle are large in size with height at withers around 1.5 meters, and bulls can weigh up to 6 quintals. The horns certainly do not go unnoticed, up to 1 meter long they differentiate the sexes: they are half-moon in males and lyre-shaped in females. The large size of the horns serves mainly to make their way through the thicker vegetation of the Mediterranean bush and to defend themselves from predators, in fact, especially in the past, farmers also chose the Maremma cow for its ability to protect the calf from wolf attacks.
At one time it was used to pull wagons and help with field work, as can be seen in the characteristic paintings of the Macchiaioli painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It had its moment of glory between the two world wars, then with the advent of mechanization in agriculture the number of animals was drastically reduced to near extinction.
Today these cattle are valued as a beef breed, both for the quality of the meat and for the quality of the breeding, which still takes place in the wild with modest hay supplementation. (quoting maremmans.co.uk)