Breeds of Asturias and the Picos de Europa
Green mountain country in northern Spain, where native valley and mountain cattle graze high summer pastures called brañas.
Breeds of this place
Best time: June to September, when the herds are up.
Asturias is a green, rainy region on Spain's northern coast, backed by the Cantabrian mountains and the limestone peaks of the Picos de Europa. Cattle are central to rural life here, kept on small farms in the valleys and taken up to high summer pastures, the brañas and majadas. Two native breeds share the region: the Asturian Valley and the Asturian Mountain cattle.
Two breeds
Asturian Valley cattle are larger, reddish-brown beef cattle of the lowlands. Asturian Mountain cattle, called Casina, are smaller, darker and hardy, suited to the steep, rocky slopes of the high country. Both are raised mostly for beef today, and beef from Asturian cattle carries a protected geographical indication.
Summer in the Picos
In late spring, herds of cattle, sheep and goats are taken up to the high pastures of the Picos de Europa National Park. Shepherds once lived in stone huts there all summer, making cheese. Cabrales, a blue cheese ripened in limestone caves, is made from cow's milk, often mixed with sheep and goat milk. Cangas de Onís holds a busy Sunday market.
A trail idea for Asturias and the Picos de Europa
- Cangas de Onís The town by its Roman-style bridge, gateway to the Picos.
- Lakes of Covadonga High lakes with summer pastures around them.
- Cabrales Villages where blue cheese ripens in caves.
- Mountain brañas Summer pastures with stone huts.
Written by the EveryCow desk with AI assistance. Background: "Picos de Europa" on Wikipedia. Fair dates, markets and visiting rules change; check locally before travelling, and keep a respectful distance from working animals. If something is wrong, tell us.
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