Description: The Cordeiro Mirandês / Canhono Mirandês PDO meat comes from lambs of the Churra Galega Mirandesa breed born and raised in a traditional extensive operating system and slaughtered up to four months of age. It is a very tender, juicy and soft meat, with a consistent non-exudative fat. It is presented commercially in the form of carcasses, half-carcasses and parts packed (whole or sliced). The ribs should, after being cut, exhibit a mean thickness of 2,5 cm.
Production method: The lambs feed exclusively on maternal milk until the third week of age, being from there on provided, gradually, with solid food. Afterwards they are placed in permanent grazing in order to benefit from the resources of the regional flora, their diet being supplemented, when necessary, with cereal grains or other natural products produced on the farm (or, exceptionally, purchased from other holdings located in the region). It is forbidden to feed the animals with products that may interfere with their growth and development (hormones, antibiotics, sulphonamides, anabolic steroids, etc.).
Special features: The quality of Cordeiro Mirandês / Canhono Mirandês PDO meat is due to the breed, but mainly to the fact that the animals graze most of the year. As a consequence, they present firm muscles and a balanced fat level, their meat presenting a uniform marbled fat.
Production area: Occupying nearly 1730 km2, the production area of Cordeiro Mirandês / Canhono Mirandês PDO encompasses the municipalities of Miranda do Douro, Mogadouro and Vimioso, all in the Bragança district.
History: The Churra Galega Mirandesa breed is as old as the history of the Planalto Mirandês region. It were the Celts that crossbred the native sheep with the sheep they brought in, thus originating the primitive churra breeds, from where the current Churra Galega Mirandesa breed derives. This breed is well adapted to the geographical and climacteric conditions of the Planalto Mirandês and the Douro river cliffs. The local breeders acquired – and passed through the generations – a specific know-how concerning the breeding of this sheep and the conduct of their herds. Its meat is traditionally a part of the local diet. Its wool has also some economic significance for the region.
Product specification (pdf)
Producer group
Associação Nacional de Criadores de Ovinos da Raça Churra Galega Mirandesa
Control and certification body
Kiwa Sativa – Unipessoal, Lda.
Control plan
Control plan (pdf)
Publication in EU official journal
Regulamento de Execução (UE) n.º 1034/2012 da Comissão – L308/9 08.11.2012
Publicação de um pedido em conformidade com o artigo 6.º, n.º2, do Regulamento (CE) n.º 510/2006 do Conselho – C60/16 29.02.2012
Publication in the Portuguese official journal
Despacho n.º 26306/2009 – 03.12.2009
Aviso n.º 5555/2007 – 23.03.2007