Volailles du Maine

Volailles du Maine designates poultry of superior quality reared in the open air on cereal-based feed within the basin of the River Maine and its tributaries, covering defined parts of the départements of Sarthe, Mayenne, Orne, Eure-et-Loir, Loir-et-Cher, Maine-et-Loire, and Indre-et-Loire. The specification requires pure or crossbred slow-growing stock and sets a minimum slaughter age for each type of poultry.

About this designation

Volailles du Maine was registered as a PGI on 21 June 1996 under file number PGI-FR-0148, with eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000012931. The applicant group was the Syndicat de Défense des Volailles Fermières de Loué, SYVOL QUALIMAINE, based at 82, avenue Rubillard, 72000 Le Mans. The designated geographical area follows the basin of the River Maine and its tributaries. It encompasses the full départements of Sarthe and Mayenne; in the département of Orne, the arrondissements of Alençon and Montagne-au-Perche; in Eure-et-Loir, the arrondissement of Nogent-le-Rotrou; in Loir-et-Cher, the arrondissement of Vendôme; specified arrondissements and named districts within Maine-et-Loire; and named districts within Indre-et-Loire. The specification requires pure or crossbred slow-growing stock, reared in the open air on cereal-based feed, with a minimum slaughter age set for each type of poultry. Carcases are graded at the abattoir. The product may be marketed fresh or frozen, whole (oven-ready or with giblets) or in sections, and must conform to minimum technical standards corresponding to the label specifications. Traceability is maintained through documentary records kept for every batch: declarations by breeders of birds added to stock, delivery slips for day-old chicks, departure declarations for the slaughterhouse, carcase collection receipts, and declarations of labels used after slaughter. All labels are numbered. Products bear the designation Volailles du Maine together with the name of the poultry type and the name and address of the certifying authority.

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

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PGI on 21 June 1996 under file number PGI-FR-0148, eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000012931.
• The specification requires pure or crossbred slow-growing stock reared in the open air on cereal-based feed.
• The geographical area spans defined parts of seven French départements within the basin of the River Maine and its tributaries.
• All labels are numbered, and documentary records must be kept for every batch to ensure full traceability from hatchery to slaughterhouse.

Tasting notes

Maine (Sarthe-Mayenne) free-range poultry IGP.

HoReCa use

Loire Valley and Norman regional preparations.

Packaging

• whole-bird-fresh-1.5-2.5kg