Burlina

Burlina cattle are a rare Italian dairy breed from Veneto, especially the foothills and mountain areas around Vicenza, Treviso, and Monte Grappa. They are black and white, sometimes irregularly splashed, but they are a separate local breed rather than a small Holstein. Burlinas are generally small to medium cattle with good feet, active grazing habits, and the ability to use rough pasture. Their milk has been linked with regional products such as Morlacco del Grappa and other traditional cheeses.

Today the breed is most often seen in conservation herds, small dairies, educational farms, and low-input grazing systems that want to maintain local genetic diversity. Milk yield is modest compared with specialized dairy breeds, so feeding and business planning need to match that reality. Breeders work to avoid inbreeding while also preventing dilution from Friesian or Holstein crosses. For keepers, the main priorities are sound pasture management, winter forage, calm handling, and preserving the characteristics that make the breed worth conserving.

Colors: Belted, Black, Black and White, Blaze Faced, Blue Roan, Brindle, Brockle Faced, Brown, Brown and White, Dun, Gray, Grey, Highbelt, Highpark, Lineback, Mottled, Pied, Red, Red and White, Red Roan, Riggit, Roan, Silver, Solid Black, Solid Red, Solid White, Speckled, Spotted, White, White Faced, Yellow