Varzese-Ottonese-Tortonese
(most common name)
(transboundary/brand name)

(local/other name):
• Cabellotta
• Bionda Tortonese
• Biunda
• Montagnina
historical breed name (English):
• Montana
• Red Mountain

The Varzese-Ottonese-Tortonese is the amalgamation of several different strains of mountain cattle in northwest Italy. Their milk is said to be used for specific local cheeses.

As of 2021, information for this amalgamation in the DAD-IS database lists only Varzese-Ottonese-Tortonese. The name ‘Montana’ is no longer listed separately. Thus, it appears that the Montana breed name has been phased out as a primary transboundary/brand name and should now be considered historical.

The Varzese-Ottonese-Tortone breed name derives from herd locations:
• Varzese (Varzi comune, Pavia province, Lombardy region)
• Ottonese (Ottone comune, Piacenza province, Emilia-Romagna region)
• Tortonese (Tortona comune, Alessandria province, Piedmont region)

(Italian) comune = township/municipality

Other Italian local breed names for these strains include:
• Bionda Tortonese (Blond Tortone, White Tortona)
• Biunda (blond)
• Cabellota (of Cabella – Cabella Ligure comune, Alessandria province, Piedmont region)
• Montagnina (of mountain)
• Montana rossa (mountain red)
• Ottonese (of Ottone)
• Razza Montana (race mountain)
• Rossa montanina (red mountain)
• Tortonese (of Tortone)
• Varzese (of Varzi of Ottone)
• Varzese Ottonese

This page was last updated on: 2023-06-05

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