History

The Mirandesa is the native breed of Portugal, it is also known by names such as Frieiresa (in Spanish) and Ratinha.

Photo courtesy of Associação dos Criadores de Bovinos de Raça Mirandesa , www.mirandesa.pt

They are used as a draft breed and also for beef production. Even in the late 1970's these animals were still being used to pull fishing boats from the water.

Today the Mirandesa is grown for beef in the natural pastures of Northeast Transmontano, a region that is above the 500 m altitude.
This region covers six counties of the District of Braganza which are: Miranda do Douro, Mogadouro, Vimioso, Vinhais, and Macedo de Braganza Knights.

The Mirandesas natural beef quality and authenticity was recognised by the EU Commission through the allocation of a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for the "Beef Mirandese."

Characteristics

This breed is light to dark brown in colour with a curly fringe of hair on the head.
Mirandesa females average 133 cm in height and 550 kg in weight and are a lighter colour than the bulls. The males stand 143 cm tall and weigh 900 kg. Both sexes have short, broad heads with large white horns which grow outward and bend down and then forward, with dark tips.

In portugal the beef of this breed is highly valued because of its great taste and texture, to ensure its authenticity it has a system of checks for certification and traceability of Mirandesa meat.

Statistics

Strong draft cattle, well adapted to limited rough forage and environment

Quiet temperament

Remarkable maternal instincts, ensuring the safety of calves from predators

Calving ease - 100% unaided after first calf (90% if first)

Fertility - ± 92%

Longevity - currently 42% of registered cows of this breed are more than 10yrs old and can keep producing till 15 yrs

Quality beef with even marbling of fat

Crosses well

Comparative

Among the 4956 cows that the Green Genealogical controls currently, 38% of cows with more than 6 deliveries have registered a mean interval between births is less than 365 days. 71% of cows with a minimum of three deliveries have recorded average intervals between births less than 384 days.

Photo courtesy of Associação dos Criadores de Bovinos de Raça Mirandesa , www.mirandesa.pt

Production
The figures given represent averages calculated from information collected on farms that practice traditional and extensive production systems.

Weight at birth
Males - 34.434 ± 3.360 kg
Females - 31.025 ± 3.703 kg

Weight at 210 days
Males - 224 kg
Females - 191 kg

Weight to 365 days
Males - 380 kg
Females - 298 kg

Adult weight
Males - 1024 kg
Females - 630 kg

The carcasses of slaughtered calves at 210 days have an average weight of 132 kg and have a conformation of ± 15% with R, ± 60% with O and P and other rating scale of the EUROP; fat for the dominant classification is 2.

www.mirandesa.pt

Distribution

The Mirandesa is found in central and northeastern Portugal and southeastern Orense in Spain. They are a draft breed which is also used for meat production.

References (the above information was cited from the following sites)

www.ansi.okstate.edu
www.mirandesa.pt