Chianina bulls

These are young Chianina bulls - a heritage breed found only here in Tuscany. They were almost lost a few decades ago, but the breed was rescued. Here at Barbialla they are famous for Chianina cattle - with so much land they are one of the few farms in this region who can raise them.

They are handsome animals and I hear their meat is like a delicacy. I often like to walk through the corals and stables where they congregate by the main house. Sometime Leroy comes with me and we look for number 806 - the prettiest cow on the farm. It is our little game.

For me though there is something I love about the smell of hay and the primal bellows of big animals. It feels familiar and comforting to me deep down in side like a distant echo from long ago.