Description: The Carne Marinhoa PDO beef is made with bovine meat of Marinhoa breed. It is a meat with homogeneous white fat to yellowish and pink color to dark red color, varying according to the animal age.
Production method: The cows are reared in traditional in system, taking advantage of spontaneous resources.
In riparian zones, the animals are fed with natural pastures and the breeders only provide them water, if necessary.
In other areas the breed is fed "à manjedoura" through crops like ryegrass, hay, straw, corn and sub-cultures of other cereals. Many breeders producing homemade flour made from maize, rice and other cereals.
Distinctive features: The Carne Marinhoa PDO beef has distinctive organoleptic characteristics as succulence and flavor. These are due the nutritive and diverse diet of Marinhoa cattle breed. The existence of diverse vegetation is due the fertile soils of the region, bathed by the Rio Vouga.
This beef can be sold as: “vitelo (a)” from cows slaughtered up to 6 months old and weight up to 120 kg; “vitelão”, male or female slaughtered between 6 months and 2 years old, and weight between 120 and 300 kg; “vaca” from females over two years old weighing between 220 kg and 450 kg;
“boi”, bulls between two and five years old weighing between 250 kg and 700 kg.
The consistency of the carne Marinhoa cattle beef is, in all age groups, firm and slightly moist.
Production area: Carne Mirandesa PDO is produced in the municipal areas of Ovar, Murtosa, Estarreja, Albergaria-a Velha, Águeda, Oliveira do Bairro, Sever do Vouga, Oliveira de Azeméis, Anadia, Mealhada Mira, Cantanhede, Montemor-o-Velho, Soure and Figueira da Foz, in the Aveiro and Coimbra districts.
History: The name Marinhoa derives from the region where the cattle breed is, predominantly in the watershed of the Rio Vouga, designated by “Marinha”.
There is no known provenience of the breed, taking as possibilities the progeny from Mirandesa cattle breed and from Galega also Mirandesa cattle breed.
The first bibliographic reference backs to the 19th century, made by Silvestre Bernardo Lima. The author characterizes the breed as work animals and breeding. Later, during 20th century many studies were made about the breed.
Product specification (pdf)
Producer group
Associação de Criadores de Bovinos da Raça Marinhoa
Control and certification body
CERTIS -Controlo e Certificação, Lda.
Control plan
Control plan (pdf)
Publication in EU official journal
Regulamento de Execução (UE) n.º 1076/2012 da Comissão – L320 14.11.2012
Pedido de alteração em conformidade com o artigo 6.º, n.º 2, do Regulamento (CE) n.º 510/2006 do Conselho - 2012/C 71/10
Publication in the Portuguese official journal
Aviso n.º 4378/2012, de 20 de março
Despacho n.º 5892/2007, de 22 de março
Aviso n.º 4569/2005, de 28 de abril
Aviso n.º 239/2005, de 02 de janeiro
Aviso n.º 11380/2000, de 20 de julho
Despacho n.º 9082/2000, de 03 de maio
Aviso n.º 8893/2001, de 11 de julho
Despacho n.º 32/1994, de 04 de fevereiro
Aviso (2ª série), de 04 de fevereiro de 1994