Looking back...
 

I started  raising racing pigeons with the help and passion of my father Umberto, in the far 1973, year in which I was on my first times studying Veterinary Medicine at the University of Parma. Since then this small flying animals  have been part of my life. I began racing at the same year, and soon I  found out that long distance races were the maximum expression of selection of racing pigeons. At this same year  I got to know and started a friendship with Dott. Gino Zanni from Rubiera-RE, and to him a owe so much, for having transmitted me even more the "sickness" of racing pigeons; we even graduated both in Veterinary Medicine with a thesis on "diseases of racing pigeons", probably the only ones in Italy on that argument!
Loving pigeons is one thing, my profession as a vet has other purposes, but I shall admit that aspects as discipline, observation, riflession and breeding methods had helped me on my day-after-day work.

Why long distance..?
 

I am a member of the "Favorita" society, from the group of Mantova, a small group part of the Italian Pigeon Association (FCI) together with other traditional groups as Reggio Emilia, Modena, Carpi, Parma, Bologna,etc. The survival of small groups, with the already signed decrease on the number of pigeoneers (fact seen overall Europe) is due the unconditional love of us pigeoneers and due presidents like ours (Mario Tonini), that dedicates great part of his own spare time to pigeons, pigeoneers and to the spirit of competition. Mario Tonini is one of those who has always struggled for the small groups, asking them to make their part, beyond any useless discussions, all of this with a result: a hard selection pressure on the lofts, that are now able to take part in interstate races of long and great long distances, showing that  small groups, seemingly disadvantage, can obtain satisfaction with top placements on important long distance races, even beating big national champions.

Breeds

Up to 1991, I had few pigeons, trying to give my little time available more to competition than breeding. Since 1992, after continuous advises from Dott. Gino Zanni, that since years is the organizer of a memorable national auction (CFI) of charity, gathering pigeons from the best lofts of Europe, then I started to know the best of Belgian pigeoneers.
The linkage of our pigeon passion to a charity auction, from one side the best of best of european pigeons, and from the other the sufferance of so many human beings throughout the world, is a great intuition of my friend Dott. Zanni. So , each year in Italy among so many honest, but profitable auctions, there is  this wonderful idea that gives the possibility to all italian pigeoneers to get a pigeon of great origin and value, knowing that the money will be applied in helping people.
Thanks to that I myself have in my loft, made of 36 pairs, many imported pigeons. At the moment I am breeding S.Toye, Van Roy, Vinois, Lemaire, Bolle, Vereecke, Prats, M. vanGeel, Herman-Hoekstra, Eijerkamp-Muller, Bronchart, Damberg, Van-Neste, P. Wynties, Romein, Norman, Gaspar.
Also my own champion lines go to the breeding loft, and selection system is the same to all: if in 3 years time the breeders have not produced any "top bird", they are culled. At my house exists the conviction that it is necessary to have  continuously "quality" pigeons, and not pedigree only. The severe selection starts on the nest and then on the whole life - long distance races requires exclusively "perfect" pigeons.

Racing system

At the moment I have 35 widows that take part to all long distance races, and 50 pairs where I practice complete widowness (males and females race). The pairing are not a rule, it depends on how much time I have, but in any case from the beginning of february up to beginning of march, and one young raised from each pair from all widowers.
In the last years I have great success with the females.
Young birds are caged in all races, and I give more importance to the freshness on arrival than to the placement. Young females race over 400 km.

Links
 

	Pigeons all of world - Page in english and dutch
	The most complete page with links from all over de world.
	A slim pigeons home page - Page in english and dutch
	A technical site maintened by Freddy Thienpont
	Risults from Netherlands - Page in english and dutch
	This site brings variated information for racing pigeons breeders. It also has a chatroom for specific conferences and much more.
	Risults from Belgium - Page in english
	A lot of important informations for racing pigeons lovers.
	Risults from Germany - Page in english and german
	Here breeders can meet each other. This site has special place for young breeders.