The Portuguese autochthonous cattle breeds and their relevance in the framework of sustainable beef production systems.

Portugal, although a small country, has 17 cattle autochthonous breeds. These breeds represent a valuable cultural and natural heritage of economic and social significance, mainly in rural regions. In addition, most of these autochthonous breeds are produced under traditional and sustainable systems that use natural resources produced locally and with low inputs. With increasing consumer awareness of production methods and a growing demand for high-quality products, local breeds have become increasingly interesting due to their unique and valuable Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) products. There are two main regions for beef production using such breeds: the mountain areas mainly located in Northern Portugal and the lowland Mediterranean region in the South. These regions are characterized by very different animal production systems, but both are focused on beef production. There are nonetheless autochthonous breeds in the rest of the country, particularly in the Azores archipelago. This review concerns all Portuguese cattle breeds. We address their history, production systems, and breed performances. We also describe the PDO products that are produced from these breeds, ultimately aiming to summarize information on the subject, ultimately contributing to fostering its potential and suitability in the framework of extensive and differentiated production systems.