The domestic animals we cooperate with in the Montado do Freixo do Meio are essential elements, not only in ensuring the functioning of the natural system but also in its regeneration.

At Montado do Freixo do Meio, we raise animals from the most expressive and ancient domestic breeds of the Iberian Peninsula, those closest to the wild ancestors from which they originated. This means that these animals largely retain the ability to perform vital functions within the ecosystem.

In parallel, we actively engage in genetic conservation, managing herds and collaborating with the official genealogical registers of the respective breeds, while also contributing to the preservation of our collective gastronomic cultural heritage.

In this way, at Montado do Freixo do Meio, we raise approximately 100 Barrosã cattle, 260 Alentejo pigs, 80 black Merino sheep, and 50 Lusitanian black chickens.

The grazing of these animals is managed through Holistic Pasture Management, aimed at restoring pastures and regenerating the soils of our Montado, making the land productive once again. The implementation of this practice at Freixo do Meio attracted the attention of its creator, Allan Savory, who visited us in 2019.