Navarra
Lamb

Navarra Lamb is born and raised here, in our land. It is produced from two high quality native breeds, the Latxa breed and the Navarra breed. 

The Navarra Lamb Protected Geographical Indication ensures the quality of the meat produced by Navarra breeders, who produce two types of lambs, lechal (suckling lambs) and ternasco (light lambs). They all come from extensive or semi-extensive farms with all the guarantees and controls that bearing the PGI ‘Cordero de Navarra’ logo implies.

Cordero de Navarra

Region covered

All the lambs covered by the Navarra Lamb PGI are born, raised and slaughtered in Navarra and belong to the Navarra and Latxa breeds, two breeds of great quality which have their origins in Navarra and are considered indigenous. 

The production area of Navarra Lamb is mainly located in the north-western regions, the Pyrenees, Cuenca de Pamplona, Tierra Estella, Navarra Media, Ribera Alta and Ribera Baja in the Autonomous Community.

Characteristics

Only pure lambs belonging to the Navarra and Latxa breeds are considered apt for supplying meat eligible for the Protected Geographical Indication. 

Navarra Lamb can be lechal (suckling lamb) or ternasco (light lamb), depending on its weight and feed:

  • Lechal, with soft, juicy, tender pale pink or white meat with a mild flavour, weighs between 5 and 8 kg when it is the Latxa breed and between 6 and 8 kg when it is Navarra.
  • Ternasco, which has very nutritious pink meat with a more pronounced taste because the animal is larger and older, weighs between 9 and 12 kg to qualify as Navarra Ternasco.

All the lambs eligible are raised on extensive or semi-extensive farms with a diet consisting of pasture, forage and other cereals, following the traditional practice of the geographical area in question.

 

Benefits of including it in your diet

Lamb meat is a source of proteins of high biological value and vitamins such as B12; it is highly recommended for its high iron content.

History

The quality and taste of the Ovis Aries Celtibericus, what is now Navarra lamb, have been known since pre-Roman times. For hundreds of years, and still today, large flocks of Navarra-breed sheep have crossed our lands from north to south in search of the winter pastures of Bardenas Reales.

Now, the Navarra Lamb Protected Geographical Indication has harnessed all the knowledge treasured by our shepherds and complements it with a whole series of quality control processes which make Navarra Lamb an unparalleled product.

The Navarra Lamb PGI, the highest European qualification in Quality Product Designations, was recognised in March 2002, and arose from the need to protect the lamb meat from sheep breeds native to Navarra produced by farmers in Navarra.

Contact

IGP Cordero de Navarra

Certification

Different controls are carried out to guarantee the origin and traceability of Navarra Lamb, from its birth, feeding and slaughter to sale. 

The technicians visit the farms where the breed is controlled to check that they comply with animal health and welfare standards. Samples of the animals’ feed are also taken.

The aging period for the meat is at least 24 hours and the storage period must not exceed 6 days; the frozen product cannot be marketed.

All the processes involved are audited by INTIA, Instituto Navarro de Tecnologías e Infraestructuras Agroalimentarias, S.A., the control body of the PDO in charge of ensuring that the certified product meets the requirements set out in the Specifications. 

INTIA is accredited by ENAC (National Accreditation Body) according to the European Standard UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012.

Control at farms
Control at slaughterhouses
Control at retail outlets
Controles Cordero de Navarra

Navarra Lamb

You can find three types of Navarra Lamb on the market:

  • Latxa-breed lechal (suckling) lamb, identified with a red backing and a label for each quarter of the carcass.
  • Navarra-breed lechal (suckling) lamb, with a yellow backing and a label for each quarter of the carcass.
  • Navarra-breed ternasco (light) lamb, which bears a blue backing and a label on one of the back legs with the initials NA.