Ternera Gallega PGI

Tasting notes

The meat offers a good balance between the fat and muscle content, and is very tender, succulent and firm. The color varies from light pink to soft red.

Other notes

Originally, the Galician Blond was a triple-purpose breed although mostly used for meat. It is of medium size, well-proportioned, with a deep, long, arched thorax, broad, flat, muscular back and rump, with long, convex legs. The bone structure is robust, strong and well-developed. There is little hide, the hair is short and the mucous membranes are pinkish. The cattle are mostly fawn or cinnamon-colored. This breed has a high fertility rate.

Geography / Relief and climate

The cattle are reared on farms controlled by the Regulatory Council.  Animals feed in the traditional way on pastures in Galicia, in line with cultural and sociological factors. Supplementary feed may include products such as maize, potatoes, turnips, fresh or dry forage, as well as cereal concentrates authorized by the Regulatory Council.

Production includes the operations of slaughter, dressing and cutting prior to packing. Transport to the slaughterhouse must be carried out in authorized vehicles minimizing stress and injury, in line with the regulations.

These cattle may not be slaughtered or their carcasses dressed simultaneously with those of other non-PGI cattle. The processes must take place with groups of equal types following the regulations, and it must be possible at all times to trace the carcass to the animal it came from. Carcasses from PGI cattle may not be frozen. The slaughterhouse may send whole, half or quarter carcasses to the registered packing-houses or to retailers.

The carcasses and meat may not be cut simultaneously with those from cattle not covered by the PGI, and storage must be done in such a way as to ensure there can be no confusion with other cut pieces.

Regulatory Council

Consejo Regulador de la IGP Ternera Gallega
Recinto Ferial Amio, s/n
15891 Santiago de Compostela (A Coruña)
Tel: (+34) 981 575 786
consejo@terneragallega.com
www.terneragallega.com

Sources:
 
- Spanish Ministry of Agriculture

- Regulatory Council, Ternera Gallega PGI