Free shipping +info
Free shipping +info
Free national and international shipping +info
Related products
Otros idiomas: Español Français Deutsch Italiano
The term Iberian pastureland
The Iberian Pastureland is a type of ecosystem made up of ho... has its origin in the Latin word defesa which means “defense or limited land for pasture use” but what is a exactly a Dehesa? In Enrique Tomás we want to share with you all our knowledge about this concept which is directly related to the production of Jamón Iberico de Bellota. Are you ready to go? Get some paper and pen out, we’re starting!
According to the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), the word “dehesa” means: “generally enclosed and wooded land, usually destined for pastures”. In other words, the pastures are very unique mountain areas of great biodiversity where pigs, sheep, goats, suckler cows are fed to obtain meat, bulls or purebred Spanish horses, among other species of animals.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, in Spain the area classified as pasture is between 3.5 and 5 million hectares and are distributed as follows:
According to the same Ministry, in our country there are around 25,000 dehesa farms and around 75% are privately owned, the rest being communal property, groups of neighbours or town halls. As we have already mentioned, pastures are the places where different animal species graze at large and, in addition to making an important contribution to the environment and biodiversity, have a significant weight in the economy of the regions where they are located.
The Iberian pig is an animal of the porcine breed, the name ...
The pastures play a very important role in the production of Bellota Iberian ham, as it is here that the pigs make the Montanera-season, at which time they feed on acorns and other natural products. In order to be brought there, the pastures have to meet certain conditions. For example, a reserve must have at least 100 m2 per pig
The pig is a wonderful animal that is part of the famous Med..., if the space is smaller it will be insufficient and the Iberian pigs will not be able to roam or eat at their leisure.
In a good year, the pigs will find as many acorns as they want there and, thanks to this nut, the wild herbs, roots and everything in between, they will eat wonderfully. This diet, together with their own ability to infiltrate fat into the muscle and the exercise they do during the Montanera
The Montanera Season is a period in which pigs are free in t..., is what will make their meat unique.
Just as the area of the pastures is delimited, so is the number of Iberian pigs that can be fed in these mountains. It is estimated that in Spain at most 700,000 pigs per year can be fattened, that is, only about 1.4 million acorn-fed Iberian hams
Ham is one of the star products of the Spanish gastronomy, a... and 1.4 million acorn-fed Iberian ham shoulders can be produced.
It should also be noted that the Montanera period has to start at a certain time of the year, specifically in October, and has to last until March at the latest. Why? Because this is the time of year when there are acorns, there is no point in taking them to another time of year.
During these about four months the pigs have to fatten approximately 50% of their weight, i.e. each of them has to reach about 170/180 kg before slaughter. Iberian pigs that do not reach this size after having been in the pasture have to eat fodder again and the meat obtained from them can no longer be called “Bellota Iberico pigs” but is categorised as “Iberico de Cebo
Cebo means feed in Spanish. In the dictionary we find two me... de Campo” (free-range Iberian pigs).
So, what is a pasture and where is its importance? They are essential to obtain authentic Iberian pigs of acorn
According to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy, th... because thanks to the exercise and diet that they will do therein, they will obtain first class legs. If we have helped you know more things about Iberian Ham’s world…That’s great!
Otros idiomas: Español Français Deutsch Italiano
Related posts
Buy 100% Iberian Bellota Ham
Buy 100% Iberian Bellota Ham
Buy 100% Iberian Bellota Ham
Buy 100% Iberian Bellota Ham
Buy 100% Iberian Bellota Ham
Buy 100% Iberian Bellota Ham
To be on top of our new stores, recommended products, promotions and events.
What are you looking for?
Gran Reserva
Ibérico Ham
Iberico di Cebo de Campo Ham
Ibérico Bellota Ham
100% Iberian Ham - Pata Negra
Smooth Flavour
Intense Flavour
Aromatic Flavour
Tasty Flavour
Gran Reserva Ham Shoulder
Ibérico Ham Shoulder
Paleta Ibérica de Cebo
Ibérico Bellota Ham Shoulder
100% Iberian Ham Shoulder - Pata Negra
My account
Order tracking
My favourites
Comments