breed
A breed is a specific group of breedable domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist seve ...
of triple-purpose
cattle
Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates widely kept as livestock. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus '' Bos''. Mature female cattle are calle ...
. It is used for
draught work
A working animal is an animal, usually domesticated, that is kept by humans and trained to perform tasks. Some are used for their physical strength (e.g. oxen and draft horses) or for transportation (e.g. riding horses and camels), while other ...
, although less so than in the past, is reared for
beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from cattle (''Bos taurus''). Beef can be prepared in various ways; Cut of beef, cuts are often used for steak, which can be cooked to varying degrees of doneness, while trimmings are often Ground beef, grou ...
, and has some
dairy
A dairy is a place where milk is stored and where butter, cheese, and other dairy products are made, or a place where those products are sold. It may be a room, a building, or a larger establishment. In the United States, the word may also des ...
qualities.
Beef from cattle reared by traditional methods within a specified area of northern Portugal has
Denominação de Origem Protegida
The protected designation of origin (PDO) is a type of geographical indication of the European Union aimed at preserving the designations of origin of food-related products. The designation was created in 1992 and its main purpose is to designat ...
status and may be marketed as Carne Arouquesa DOP.
History
It is distributed mainly in the
districts
A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions ...
Braga
Braga (; ) is a cities of Portugal, city and a Municipalities of Portugal, municipality, capital of the northwestern Portugal, Portuguese Braga (district), district of Braga and of the historical and cultural Minho Province. Braga Municipality ...
,
Porto
Porto (), also known in English language, English as Oporto, is the List of cities in Portugal, second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Porto District and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto c ...
and
Viseu
Viseu () is a city and municipality in the Centro Region of Portugal and the capital of the Viseu District, district of the same name, with a population of 100,105 inhabitants in the entire municipality, and center of the Viseu Dão Lafões Interm ...
in northern Portugal, with the largest numbers in the ''
concelho
Concelho () is the Portuguese-language term for municipality, referring to the territorial subdivision in local government. In comparison, the word ''município'' () refers to the organs of State. This differentiation is still in use in Portugal ...
Castelo de Paiva
Castelo de Paiva (), officially the Borough of Castelo de Paiva (), is a town and a borough of the Aveiro District in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 16,733, in an area of 115.01 km2.
On 4 March 2001 at 9 pm, a 116-year-old metal bridge ...
,
Castro Daire
Castro Daire () is a List of Portuguese municipalities, municipality in Viseu District in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 15,339, in an area of 379.04 km2.
The present mayor is Paulo Almeida , elected by a coalition CDS-PP, PSD. The muni ...
,
Cinfães
Cinfães () is a village and a municipality in the northern district of Viseu, Portugal. The village proper has about 3,300 inhabitants. The population of the municipality in 2011 was 20,427,Resende, Sao Pedro do Sul and
Vale de Cambra
Vale de Cambra (; ) is a city and a municipality in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 22,864, in an area of 147.33 km². It had 21,440 electors in 2006. The city itself has about 4,100 inhabitants and is located in the Vila Chã, Codal e Vi ...
south of the
Douro
The Douro (, , , ; ; ) is the largest river of the Iberian Peninsula by discharge. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in the Spanish Soria Province, province of Soria, meanders briefly south, then flows generally west through the northern par ...
Marco de Canaveses
Marco de Canaveses () is a city and municipality on Porto district, in northern Portugal. The population in 2011 was 53,450, in an area of 201.89 km2. The city itself had a population of 9,042 in 2001.
Geography
The city of Marco Canaveses i ...
to the north.
Characteristics
The cows reach a height of , the bulls , so the Arouquesas can be described as small. The breed's weight is around . Their hair colour is light brown although the males may become a little darker than females. Mucosa and claws are dark coloured. The wide horns are directed forward, first down and then up.
Arouquesas are adapted to the mountains - their hind legs are very muscular. In Portugal today they still work as draught cattle. In the past century oxen often were exported to Great Britain because of their beef. In 1902 Arouquesa beef was the winner of the "Award for the Best Beef" in Paris. The animals are very long-living; 16–18 calves per cow are not uncommon. Most times they practice mother cow husbandry. The animals are very affable but active.