The Department of Agriculture has published documents sent to the European Commission as part of its application to have Comeragh mountain lamb recognised as a protected geographical indicator (PGI).

The documents are part of the Department’s response to technical queries from the Commission on Ireland’s 2019 application to have the proposed PGI listed.

If approved, lambs will have to be of the Scottish Blackface breed, plus be born and reared in the Comeragh Mountains.

A declaration will have to be signed by the owner at slaughter which shows proof that the lambs meet these conditions.

Response

The Department’s response states that lambs only receive supplementary feeding prior to slaughter or during adverse weather, with carcases ranging from 13kg to 22kg.

Supplementary feeding cannot make up more than 30% of a lamb’s diet at all time.

Qualifying lambs must be no older than 12 months and must hang for at least five days after slaughter.

The lamb is described as having a “naturally mild, slightly sweet taste” resulting from the mix of grasses and herbs on which they graze.

The hill grazing of lambs gives meat “higher levels of Omega 3 fatty acids than grain fed lambs”, according to the Department.

Roaming on the hills also sees a “fitter lamb” with a “light fat covering” and “very lean meat”.