Description
The Ternera Asturiana PGI is a meat obtained from Asturiana de los Valles and Asturiana de la Montaña bovines and their relative cross breeds. When slaughtered, the meat is called Ternera if the animal is aged less than 12 months and Añojo if aged between 12 and 18 months.
Production Area
The production area of Ternera Asturiana PGI covers the entire region of the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias.
Production Method
The breeding system is based on mother nursing and exploitation of natural pastures, and the diet is integrated with fodder and silage forages in winter. Asturiana vegetation is typical of an Atlantic region where the deciduous forest is dominating, due to the abundant rainfall and to the mild temperatures. The botanical composition of greens and altitude pastures is extremely varied and consists of a lot of species of agronomic interest like gramineous, leguminous and labiates plants with alimentary characteristics high appreciated by the livestock. The bovines are suckled by the mother for a minimum of five months with the addition of the typical food of extensive breeding based on the fodder from natural pastures. After weaning, they are also nurtured with cereals and leguminous plants. In spring and summer, the animals are brought to pasture in the mountain areas, while in winter, they are kept into stalls and nurtured with fodder and silage forages.
Appearance and Flavour
The Ternera Asturiana PGI meat is tender, but with compact consistency. Its colour spans from pink to red and its flavour and scent are very peculiar and strong.
History
The widespread of Asturiana cow in the production area of Ternera Asturiana PGI and in the entire Iberian Peninsula goes back to immemorial times. This is demonstrated by the find of the bones in the archaeological excavations which confirm the existence of this bovine breed in the 4th-5th century B.C. with the same morphological features. Later, a big expansion of farming took place in the entire centre and western area of Spain also thanks to the impulse given by the monastic communities. At the beginning, Asturiana de los Valles breed was also used for the production of milk and as draught animals. Today the bovine farming has become increasingly more important from an economical point of view in the production area.
Gastronomy
The Ternera Asturiana PGI meat can be stored in refrigerator for a few days. This product can be consumed if cooked in the simplest way, for example, grilled or fried, but it can also be the principal ingredient in elaborated recipes, typical of Spanish cuisine, like pâté, carpaccio or stew. It can be seasoned or spiced with soya sauce and used as the principal ingredient for a lot of dishes accompanied with mushrooms, potatoes and rice. It is perfect with the typical Asturiana cider.
Marketing
The product is sold as Ternera Asturiana PGI Ternera and Añojo. It is sold cut or packed in portions with variable weight, in sealed containers.
Distinctive Features
The production area of Ternera Asturiana PGI has an Atlantic climate which influence on the pasture green, which is characterized mostly by gramineous and leguminous plants which are species with highly appreciated features to nurture the livestock.
