The animals are free to graze and root around, in full respect of animal welfare.
There was a time when, across the plains and hills of Piedmont, a black pig was raised, recognisable by the small white mask on its snout. It was a hardy, resilient animal, perfectly suited to life outdoors and to the rhythms of the countryside. Then farming changed pace: faster, more intensive, more standardised. And that pig disappeared, or almost. That story was revived by the passion of Roberto Costa, co-owner of the Teo Costa farm, who since 2012 has committed to an ambitious project: to bring back the ancient native breed and restore its dignity, identity and future. This is how the Piedmontese Black Pig, or Nero di Cavour, was born: not as a simple breeding operation, but as the result of long work in research, selection and study, also supported by researchers from the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Turin. A journey shared and recognised by the Piedmont Region and by the Agriculture Councillors who over the years have supported and endorsed the initiative.
The entire project was backed by Anas, the Italian National Association of Pig Breeders. Today the breed is officially recognised, but numbers remain limited. It is young and, at the same time, fragile. And it is precisely this fragility that makes it precious.
The Cavour Black Pig is not made for intensive farming. It needs space, room to move, and meadows to root in. It lives in extensive systems, outdoors, where growth is not forced. It is an animal that gives its best when it can follow natural rhythms. And those rhythms are reflected in the meat.
Its meat is well balanced and flavourful, with a marbling that makes it particularly suited to being turned into quality cured meats. It does not seek uniformity, but character. It does not aim for quantity, but for depth of flavour.
Choosing a product made from the Cavour Black Pig means supporting a different way of farming. It means keeping alive a breed recovered with dedication, raised in small numbers and tied to a specific territory. It means giving continuity to the work of breeders who have chosen to value biodiversity.
