Cinta senese - introduction
Until the end of the 19 C, the pig breeds raised in Italy were almost exclusively
the so-called native breeds, more or less primitive, black in color with or
without a band on the forequarters and white spots on the extremities. They
produced highly prized lean hams and meat suitable for sausages. The Cinta
Senese originated in the hilly area west of
Sienna, whence it spread
throughout Tuscany due to its excellent grazing abilities. The breed's main
characteristic is the presence of a wide white band extending from the
withers to the shoulders and forelimbs, while the rest of the body is slate
brown with short, thin black bristles. The head has a straight profile, rather
long and tapered, ending in a robust, pointed snout. The small ears are directed
forward and downward. The trunk is not very long, cylindrical, with a drooping
abdomen. It is only thanks to the commitment of a few breeders that this ancient
pig breed, originally from the Sienna countryside, is still among us today,
albeit in very rare specimens.
Historical notes
There is much evidence of the use of the Cinta Senese breed of pigs, both in the
Macelleria del Corso of Arnaldo Binarelli and in its area of origin and
beyond the borders of Tuscany, dating back to the early Middle Ages. The
particular physical structure of this animal, resistant even to adverse weather
conditions, allowed for a certain ease of management. For farmers living in the
wooded areas of the Chianti mountains, for example, forced into almost total
isolation for three to four months of the year, owning one or two Cinta Senesi
pigs was often a guarantee of survival. Representations of Cinta Senesi pigs
have been found almost everywhere. The most famous is undoubtedly that in
Ambrogio Lorenzetti's Effetti del Buongoverno - "Effects of Good
Government" (1338-40). Another important depiction, which testifies to how this
breed was widespread beyond the borders of Tuscany, is found in Venice, on the
floor of the church of San Sebastiano - Cappella dell'Annunziata - dated 1510
and executed in Faenza. The fresco cycle of the "Cappella di Casanuova di Ama"
(1596) in
Gaiole in Chianti, the rediscovery of which caused quite a stir some
time ago, also features a frescoed specimen at the feet of St. Anthony the
Abbot. We can be sure that the meat, cured meat products and fat of this animal
have made a notable contribution to the improvement of living conditions in this
area of Italy. In fact, we find Cinta Senese specimens depicted in a medical
manual dating back to the 14 C. The fat deposits were probably valuable not only
for nutrition, but also for the preparation of ointments and salves. The
breeding of this pig breed has survived, almost unscathed, many historical and
cultural events. From the beginning of the modern era to the end of
sharecropping, and even immediately after World War II, Cinte Senesi pigs were
regularly raised. Within living memory, the legendary "Verro Cinto" (Cinto
Boar), owned by the
Ricasoli
family of Brolio, is remembered as the most sought-after specimen for
breeding..
The characteristics of the cinta senese breed
This is a particular pig breed native to the
Province of
Sienna. It is characterized by a dark coat with a white band ("cinta",
hence its name), withers, shoulders, and forelimbs. The profile of the snout is
more elongated and narrow than that of other pigs, an adaptation to a less
domesticated lifestyle. Its diet consists primarily of roots, tubers and organic
matter from the subsoil, which requires an organ with a highly developed sense
of smell, but also adept at searching in muddy areas and the movement of earth.
The ears are small, directed forward and slightly lower than in modern domestic
pigs, covering the eyes, thus providing additional protection against brambles
and undergrowth. The skeletal system also presents its own characteristics: the
bone size is proportionally almost double that of its Landrace or Large White
cousins, evidence of an adaptation to a dynamic, wild lifestyle. The muscular
structures are dense, lean, and highly vascularised, and are deep red in color.
The fat deposits, both the blessing and curse of this swine species, possess
unique and prized organoleptic qualities; the fat/lean meat ratio tends to be
higher than that of other breeds, likely due to a slower metabolism, which makes
Cinta Senese specimens unsuitable for permanent housing.
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