The Mertolenga is a Portuguese
breed
A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...
of
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 ...
. It is named for the
concelho of
Mértola in south-eastern
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 ...
, bordering with Spain. In 2003 it was one of thirteen registered Portuguese cattle breeds, constituting approximately 19 per cent of cattle in the country.
[Institut national de la recherche agronomique (2003): ''Animal research'', Volumes 52–53, EDP Sciences S.A. (France).]
History
The Mertolenga originated as a colour variant within the
Alentejana
The Alentejana is a cattle breed from Portugal that was the main breed raised for meat in Southern Portugal historically. The Alentejana breed has the Protected Geographical Status, protected geographical status of Denominação de Origem Contr ...
cattle 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 south-eastern Portugal, identified in 1873. It derives in part from the Spanish
Berrenda en Colorado
Berenda (Spanish: ''Berrenda'', meaning "female antelope") was an unincorporated community in Madera County, California. It is located on the north bank of Berenda Creek southeast of Fairmead, and northwest of Madera, at an elevation of . ...
.
The breed region is circumscribed almost exclusively to southern Portugal in the Low
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 ...
, and
Ribatejo regions.
Characteristics
Use
The Mertolenga was originally used principally for
draught work in the rice fields of Alentejo. It was also used to assist in moving and handling
fighting cattle, in the same way that the Berrenda en Colorado is used in Spain. In the twenty-first century it is reared for beef, some of which is marketed as ''Carne Mertolenga'', which has
Denominação de Origem Protegida status.
References
Cattle breeds
Cattle breeds originating in Portugal
Portuguese products with protected designation of origin
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