Mertolenga
{{Short description|Portuguese breed of cattle}}
{{Infobox cattle breed
| name = Mertolenga
| image = Rede Natura 2000 - Sítio do Estuário do Tejo 06, cropped 2.jpg
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| status = {{ubl|FAO (2007): not at risk{{r|barb|p=92}}|DAD-IS (2022): not at risk{{r|dad}}}}
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| country = Portugal
| distribution = Alentejo
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| use = formerly draught, management of fighting bulls; now beef
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The Mertolenga is a Portuguese breed of cattle. It is named for the concelho of Mértola in south-eastern Alentejo, bordering with Spain.{{r|cabi|p=242}} In 2003 it was one of thirteen registered Portuguese cattle breeds, constituting approximately 19 per cent of cattle in the country.Institut national de la recherche agronomique (2003): Animal research, Volumes 52–53, EDP Sciences S.A. (France).
History
The Mertolenga originated as a colour variant within the Alentejana cattle of Alentejo in south-eastern Portugal, identified in 1873.{{r|cabi|p=242}} It derives in part from the Spanish Berrenda en Colorado.{{r|felius|p=302}}
The breed region is circumscribed almost exclusively to southern Portugal in the Low Alentejo, and Ribatejo regions.
Use
The Mertolenga was originally used principally for draught work in the rice fields of Alentejo. It was also used to assist in moving and handling fighting cattle, in the same way that the Berrenda en Colorado is used in Spain.{{r|cabi|p=242}} In the twenty-first century it is reared for beef, some of which is marketed as Carne Mertolenga, which has Denominação de Origem Protegida status.{{r|cabi|p=242}}
References
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{{Cattle breeds of Portugal}}
Category:Cattle breeds originating in Portugal
Category:Portuguese products with protected designation of origin
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