The Caseus Patavinus from Unipd: Dairy Innovation from University Research
23.05.2025
On Friday, 23rd May, at the Cantele Hall of the "Lucio Toniolo" Experimental Agricultural Company of the University of Padua in Legnaro, the workshop "Enhancement of the Territory through Agri-food Research" was held, during which the Caseus Patavinus 1222 was presented. This is a mature cow's milk cheese produced with raw milk, resulting from a collaboration between the University of Padua and the Morandi Dairy in Anguillara Veneta.
Caseus Patavinus 1222 is a raw cow's milk cheese, with a cubic shape and a weight of approximately 6 kg. It has an edible rind, treated with extra virgin olive oil, and a straw-yellow colour. The cheese has a semi-hard and crumbly texture, which becomes more compact with ageing. The interior colour ranges from pearly white to ochre, with possible green veins due to potential natural blueing. The maturation period lasts between 8-10 months.
This cheese, with great symbolic, cultural, and gastronomic value, was born from a collaboration in 2023 between the "Lucio Toniolo" Experimental Agricultural Company and the Morandi Dairy. It is produced in limited quantities and the milk comes from Italian Red Pied cows, fed with forage produced on the farm and allowed to graze freely, ensuring excellent health conditions and animal welfare.
The milk used to produce Caseus Patavinus 1222 comes exclusively from the Teaching Barn of the "Lucio Toniolo" Experimental Agricultural Company of the University of Padua. The Teaching Barn is essential for the practical activities of over 1700 students in the Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine courses, contributing to the prestigious European accreditation of the Veterinary Medicine degree course. The barn, which resumed its productive activity in 2012/13, houses about 40 dairy cows and 30 young heifers. The goal is to ensure animal welfare by improving their diet with self-produced forage. Recently, a grazing area has been introduced for the cows, further improving the quality of the milk.
This educational and management approach aims to offer students advanced practical experiences. In addition to direct sales at the Morandi Dairy, Caseus Patavinus 1222 will be distributed in quality restaurants, wine shops, and selected stores in Padua.
For further information: "Lucio Toniolo" Experimental Agricultural Company.
