Agneau de Pauillac

Agneau de Pauillac is an unweaned lamb aged not more than 80 days, suckled principally on its mother's milk and raised in a sheepfold within the department of Gironde, France. Carcasses must weigh between 11 and 15 kg and meet EUROP conformation and fat cover class 2 or 3. Offal is excluded from the designation.

About this designation

Agneau de Pauillac is registered as a PGI under file number PGI-FR-0178, with EU protection granted on 19 July 2003. The eAmbrosia identifier is EUGI00000013493. The geographical area is the department of Gironde. The lamb must be born and bred with its mother within that area. It is an unweaned animal aged not more than 80 days, suckled and reared principally on its mother's milk, and raised in a sheepfold. The use of a milk replacer in addition to maternal milk is not permitted, including in the event of adoption. Supplementary feed for lambs must not exceed 45 % of total feed, must contain a minimum of 50 % cereal grains, and is subject to limits of 18 % nitrogen content, 20 % cereal supplements, and 5 % fat. Meat meal, bone meal, animal fat, antibiotics, growth promoters, and urea are prohibited in feed. Mothers must have an obligatory minimum grazing period of 7 months. The lamb is a cross between mothers from specified hardy breeds — Tarasconnaise, Lacaune meat, Blanche du Massif Central, or first-generation crossings with Charollais, Rouge de l'Ouest, Suffolk, or Berrichon du Cher — and fathers from specified meat breeds: Berrichon du Cher, Charollais, Rouge de l'Ouest, or Suffolk. Carcasses must weigh between 11 and 15 kg and carry EUROP conformation and fat cover 2 or 3. Labelling must include the name Agneau de Pauillac, the European Union's PGI logo, and the name and address of the inspection body. Offal is excluded from the PGI.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PGI on 19 July 2003 under file number PGI-FR-0178; eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013493.
• The lamb must be aged not more than 80 days and may not be fed any milk replacer, even in the event of adoption.
• Carcasses must weigh between 11 and 15 kg with EUROP fat cover class 2 or 3; offal is excluded from the designation.
• Ewes must complete an obligatory minimum grazing period of 7 months; silage and wrapping are prohibited in feed.

Tasting notes

Médoc-Pauillac lamb IGP, traditionally suckled lamb (lait de la mère only). Pale very tender flesh, delicate sweet-mild flavor.

HoReCa use

Agneau de Pauillac is marketed as a whole carcass, cut, or packaged for retail sale; whole carcasses may be shipped in a cloth bag called a stockinette.

Packaging

• whole-suckling-lamb-7-10kg
• half-lamb-3.5-5kg
• gigot-1.5-2kg
• côtes-rack-600-800g

Seasonality