What should I know?

What should I know?

Dehesa in Spanish (Montado in Portuguese) is an agrosilvopastoral system which is found in the South of Europe and typical from the Mediterranean climate. These lands have been managed and modified by human activity to allow for their survival. Improving the management after generations have made dehesas one of the perfect examples of a currently method for a sustainable development preserving the environment. Therefore, human beings need these lands as much as the dehesas need human management to exist. This statement is the basis in Agroganadera Galyval, our company.

 

Trees that can be found in the Spanish dehesas are mainly acorn producers belonging to the genus Quercus spp.: holm oaks (Q. ilex), cork oaks (Q. suber) and gall oaks (Q. canariensis). All these three species can be found in our dehesa, placed in Sierra Norte in Sevilla, which allow us to have a continuous acorn production during the montanera.

 

The inner characteristics found in the dehesa lands and their crops allow an extensive livestock production. The training and continuous improving after generations in Agroganadera Galyval provided us with the optimal conditions for breeding the iberian pig (cerdo ibérico de bellota) with an exclusive feeding system based on acorn and pasture.








The Montanera

The montanera involves the period in which the iberian pigs are bred freely in the dehesa. Their feeding thus is based on acorns, pastures and other wild fruits. It includes from September to February, months in which acorns get the optimal ripeness.


During the montanera, pigs will double their weight until 170kg. approximately. At this stage, they are moved to the slaughterhouse, were they are processed to get the best quality on their derivate products.


In our dehesas, each pig freely lives in an area of 600-10000 m² in continuous practice, typical of the extensive livestock production. Thus, the inner fat is homogeneously distributed in the muscles and flesh of the pigs and their legs are beautifully stylized, getting a tasty unique iberian jamón and paleta.


Extensive vs Intensive

  • All our animals are raised extensively, maintaining the symbiosis between the human being and nature.
  • Our sheep gives us the optimal maintenance of the pasture for the breeding and fattening of the Acorn Iberian Pig.
  • Here we present the big and clear differences between intensive breeding pigs and extensive breeding pigs.
Extensive Breeding:
  1. Swine in the wild in the pasture.
  2. Vital Area 600 - 10000 m² for each pig.
  3. Life between 14 and 24 months.
  4. Natural nutrition: acorns, non-transpyrenean cereals, herbs and grasses.
The ham
  1. Intense flavour that remains in the mouth.
  2. Exterior appearance:
    - Stylized legs 
    - Worn hoofs
  3. Distribution of fat perfectly infiltrated between protein fibers due to life in freedom of movement.
Intensive breeding:
  1. Pigs locked in farms
  2. Reduced mobility (1-2 m² / pig)
  3. Maximum 10 months of life
  4. Feed based on compound feed
The ham
  1. Flat and tasteless.
  2. Exterior appearance:
    - Short legs
    - Non-worn hooves
  3. Poor distribution of fat due to sedentary life.
Our Iberian Acorn
You can just enjoy the view,
Our iberian acorn-fed pigs
Certified Products
All our products are officially certified by Certicalidad S.L. This company ensures that we offer the best quality in our acorn-fed iberian products under Spanish regulations, which are stipulated by ENAC (Entidad Nacional de Acreditación).

Every single product that we offer contains the unique quality cerfication stamp, which you can fine included in the label.
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