Presidia
The Presidia sustain quality production at risk of extinction, protect unique regions and ecosystems, recover traditional processing methods, and safeguard local breeds and plant varieties.
Presidia farmers commit themselves to:
- raising animals in pastures as much as possible and guaranteeing access to mountain pasture in the summer
- safeguarding local breeds
- providing adequate space in comfortable shelters
- guaranteeing adequate natural light
- maintaining cow-calf operations (where reproduction occurs on the farm) and allowing calves to remain with their mothers for the necessary time
- avoiding mutilations
- guaranteeing a high-quality diet composed of grass and hay, integrated with grains and pulses of local origin (where possible) when necessary
- avoiding the use of maize silage and low-quality feed made with byproducts from industrial farming and food production (sometimes almost waste), urea, additives, or supplements
- avoiding forced feeding
- using antibiotics only when necessary and doubling the suspension period, rather than employing preventative antibiotic treatments
- slaughtering close to the farms and guaranteeing adequate transportation for the animals
Over the next few years, Slow Food will undertake a revision of the Presidia protocols to improve the aspects relating to animal welfare.
