The flagship of the livestock breeding program is the “Cinta Senese ” swine. This typical breed of central Italy is characterized by its black colour and pink collar around the neck. There is also the ” Arusia ” Umbrian breed with its pink colour, selected by the rural development Agency of Umbria.
Both pigs are reared in the wild and fed mainly on acorns and tubers including the Umbrian truffle present in the soil.
The type of farming and this particular diet make the meat of these breeds
rich in monounsaturated fats among which is oleic acid, the main component of olive oil. This ingredient causes an oily film to develop on the surface when the salamis are left at room temperature, a trait that makes them very similar to prized Spanish sausages .
Both the Sardinian, quite numerous around Viterbo, and the Assaf breeds of sheep are used for milk production and the subsequent transformation into cheese. The latter type, having flexible breeding periods, allows for continuous milk production throughout the year during periods of milk shortage of the Sardinian breed.