Il comes from the ex-county of Modica (province of Ragusa-Sicily). From there it
has spreaded throughout the whole island. It was exported into Sardinia giving birth to the Modicana Sarda. It is the most important cattle breed in Sicily, for its consistency and quality as well. Very rustic and frugal breed, lately it has spread around the whole region being easily apt to any pedoclimatic situation.
Since 1985 the Registry Office of autochthonous cattle breeds and ethnic groups of limited diffusion has been founded, in order to protect those Italian cattle breeds at risk of extinction and to safeguard this genetic heritage. Among them there are the following breeds: Agerolese, Bianca Val Padana (Modenese), Burlina, Cabannina, Calvana, Cinisara, Garfagnina, Modicana, Mucca Pisana, Pezzata Rossa d’Oropa, Pinzgau, Pontremolese, Pustertaler, Reggiana, Sarda, Sardo-Modicana, Varzese.
A uniform dark red coat shading from the black of the bull to the golden red of the cow. Black tail tuft. Yellowish horns at the basis and black at the tips. Large udders with long big tits.
Very good working characteristics, quite good for milk production. Quite poor for meat. It is used to be bred for labour, today it is bred for milk, with which some typical cheeses are made (Caciocavallo and Ragusano).
