Carne Alentejana

Carnalentejana is fresh beef produced exclusively from animals of the Alentejana cattle breed, born, reared, fattened and slaughtered within a defined area of Portugal encompassing the Distritos of Beja, Évora and Portalegre and specified municipalities in the Distritos of Setúbal, Santarém and Castelo Branco. Animals must be reared extensively at stocking densities lower than 1,4 animals per hectare.

About this designation

Carnalentejana is registered as a PDO under file number PDO-PT-0209, with EU protection dating from 21 June 1996, and is recorded in eAmbrosia under identifier EUGI00000013219. The designation covers beef from animals of the Alentejana cattle breed whose parents are inscribed in the studbook and which are themselves recorded in the breed's Register of Births. Animals must be born, reared and fattened on holdings within the defined geographical area, which comprises all municipalities belonging to the Distritos of Beja, Évora and Portalegre, specified municipalities in the Distrito of Setúbal including Alcácer do Sal, Grândola and Santiago do Cacém, specified municipalities in the Distrito of Santarém including Abrantes, Santarém and Coruche, and the municipalities of Castelo Branco, Idanha-a-Nova, Proença-a-Nova and Vila Velha de Ródão in the Distrito of Castelo Branco. Rearing must be extensive, with stocking densities lower than 1,4 animals per hectare. Calves are suckled by their mothers until they are 6–9 months of age, after which feed is gradually supplemented by grazing and concentrated feedingstuffs authorised by the Producer Group. All slaughtering, cutting, processing and packaging must take place within the specified geographical area, subject to a limited exception where no local processing structure meeting the Group's hygiene and safety requirements exists, in which case a maximum transport range of 500 km applies. Each unit bears a numbered certification mark enabling full traceability. The inspection and certification body is CERTIALENTEJO — Certificação de Produtos Agrícolas, Lda, based in Évora. Mandatory labelling must include the term 'CARNALENTEJANA — Denominação de Origem Protegida' and the certification mark bearing the product name, the name of the monitoring and certification body, and a serial number.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 28, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Carnalentejana received EU PDO protection on 21 June 1996 under file number PDO-PT-0209.
• Animals must be reared extensively at stocking densities lower than 1,4 animals per hectare.
• Calves are suckled by their mothers until 6–9 months of age before feed is gradually supplemented.
• All cutting, processing and packaging must occur within the specified geographical area; where an exception applies, a maximum transport range of 500 km is established.

Tasting notes

Alentejano beef DOP from native Alentejana breed (Évora-Beja). Characteristic montado-grazed beefy flavor.

HoReCa use

Alentejano steakhouse; pairs with Alentejano reds.

Packaging

• Same