Description: Carne Arouquesa PDO, obtained from Arouquesa breed, is a succulent meat, slightly moist, particularly suitable for barbeques. Commercially, it comes in carcasses or in portions packaged in bags or in suitable containers. Four different specifications are accepted: veal, young beef, steer and cow.
Production method: The breeding of Arouquesa cattle must respect the traditional methods of pasture use. Supplementary feeding, when required, must only use natural products. The cattle’s growth rate must not be too fast.
Special features: The quality of Carne Arouquesa PDO is closely related to the characteristics of the Arouquesa breed (which has also milk aptitude) as well as the way it is raised.
Production area: Occupying near 3240 km2, the production area of Carne Arouquesa PDO is located at the crossroads of the districts of Aveiro (municipalities of Arouca, Castelo de Paiva, Sever do Vouga and Vale de Cambra, part of the municipalities of Albergaria-a-Velha, Oliveira de Azeméis and Santa Maria da Feira), Braga (part of the municipality of Celorico de Basto), Porto (municipality of Baiao, part of the municipalities of Amarante and Marco de Canavezes) and Viseu (municipalities of Castro Daire, Cinfães, Oliveira de Frades, São Pedro do Sul and Vouzela, part of the municipalities of Lamego, Resende, Tarouca, Viseu, Vila Nova de Paiva and Viseu).
History: The ancestral reputation of Arouquesa meat was demonstrated, for example, in the Great Paris Exhibition of 1878, where it was the only Portuguese product rewarded. Traditionally used to draw the ploughs, the Arouquesa breed was also well appreciated for its milk, especially suitable for the production of butter.
Product specifications (pdf)
Producer group
ANCRA - Associação Nacional dos Criadores da Raça Arouquesa
Control and certification body
CERTIS -Controlo e Certificação, Lda
Control plan
Control plan (pdf)
Publication in EU official journal
Regulamento (CE) n.º 1107/96 da Comissão – L148 21.06.1996
JOUE 2022/C 219/03 - 03.06.2022
JOUE L294 de 27.09.2022
Publication in the Portuguese official journal
Despacho n.º 17/1994 – 31.01.1994
Aviso n.º 15567/2012 – 21.11.2012
Aviso n.º 2003/2019 - 05-02-2019