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The Iberian Pig

The Iberian pig is one of the most appreciated animals in Spanish gastronomy. Its meat is essential for the production of Iberian hams and shoulders as well as sausages, lard and other products that are fundamental to the cuisine of our country.

Iberian pork is also one of the most prized meats for its flavour, texture and aroma. It is a special meat that, thanks to the specific diet of the animal, has fatty streaks that make it unique.


THE IBERIAN BREED

The Iberian pig differs in many ways from the white pig. One of the main differences between these two pig breeds is that the Iberian pig has a very characteristic physiology, based on a thin skeleton, with very long and strong legs.

In this way, the Iberian pig has less muscle than other breeds, which makes it unique: its system infiltrates thin streaks of fat between the musculature that contain proteins and the healthy acids from the acorns. For this to happen, an Iberian pig needs to eat more than other breeds for fattening.

Iberian pigs can weigh up to 300 kilos, although generally the chosen ones weigh between one hundred and fifty and one hundred and eighty kilos approximately. As a curious fact, during the ‘montanera’, an Iberian pig can consume more than seven kilos of acorns per day and three kilos of pasture.

But it is not only the feed that is important in the rearing of Iberian pigs. Their way of life is also fundamental to achieve the ideal characteristics for hams and shoulders as well as for the rest of the derivatives. This means that during its life in the pastures, the Iberian pig gets a lot of exercise, walking several kilometres a day. Thanks to this, fat is introduced into the muscle fibres, giving rise to the fatty streaks we were talking about earlier.



PARTS OF THE IBERIAN PIG

IBERIAN PIG LABELING

100% ibérico de bellota

100% ibérico pig
Acorn fed on the pasture (no artificial foods)

Ibérico de bellota

Cross-bred pig
Acorn fed on the pasture (no artificial foods)

Cebo de Campo ibérico

Cross-bred pig
Fed in extensive or intensive free-range farms

Cebo Ibérico

Cross-bred pig
Fed in extensive farms