The Alentejana is a

cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult mal ...

breed from

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

that was the main breed raised for meat in Southern Portugal historically. The Alentejana breed has the protected geographical status of DOC (''Denominação de Origem Controlada'') from the

European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body o ...

. Genetics show that it contains DNA from Africa that may have arrived during the era the region was under Muslim control. It is closely related to the Spanish Retinta breed. The breed region is circumscribed almost exclusively to the Southern Portuguese Region of

Alentejo Alentejo ( , ) is a geographical, historical, and cultural region of south–central and southern Portugal. In Portuguese, its name means "beyond () the Tagus river" (''Tejo''). Alentejo includes the regions of Alto Alentejo and Baixo Alent ...

, in both, High and Low Alentejo. The race is represented by rustic, energetic and gentle animals that in the recent past were used to work.

References

External links

*http://autoctones.ruralbit.com/index.php?rac=1&esp=1&pais=pt {{Cattle breeds of Portugal Cattle breeds originating in Portugal Portuguese products with protected designation of origin

See also

References

External links