Spain's Iberian Peninsula has a rich ecosystem that prioritizes the breeding of Iberian pigs. But do you really know what a dehesa is and what are the main characteristics of this landscape?
Below, we tell you what a dehesa is , its origin, benefits and main characteristics.

The origin of the dehesas
You've probably wondered what a dehesa is. It is a type of ecosystem located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, the origin of which is attributed to the time of the Reconquista.
Local ranchers began to fence their properties in order to protect them from the cattle that were transhumant in the area. The terminology of this fence comes from the word “ defesa” which in Latin means “defense” or “land fenced for use as pasture”.
Spain has approximately between 3.5 and 5 million hectares of pastures , which are divided between: Extremadura, Andalusia, Castile and León, Castile La Mancha and Madrid.
It is worth noting that this ecosystem derives from the Mediterranean forest in which different animals are raised, such as sheep, cows and, especially, Iberian pigs. In addition, they have the freedom to move and feed at will throughout the surface that surrounds the pasture.
What is the dehesa characterized by?
The dehesa is an ecosystem of great beauty and majesty. However, it must have certain characteristics to be classified with this name:
- They have a wooded area of approximately 10 trees per hectare. They usually have an area of millions of hectares, which means that the forested area must be immense .
- There must be 100 m2 for each animal , so that each pig, sheep or cow can be raised properly.
- It is composed mainly of trees such as cork oak, holm oak and gall oak, although it is possible to find other species such as ash, rock rose and broom.
- It must be an area enriched with acorns , and it is no coincidence that all the species mentioned above produce this fruit. The acorn is the main source of food for the Iberian pig, along with other plants available in the pasture.
- Both the trees and the bushes that are present in this ecosystem must be cared for by man. In this way, they will have the necessary space for their growth, guaranteeing good nutrition and quality for the pigs.
On the other hand, the dehesas also provide benefits to the people who live off these landscapes. Not only are they a spacious and prioritized place for animals, but they also offer different natural resources such as firewood, cork or even honey production.
Of course, these are processes that take time. In fact, obtaining cork can take up to 50 years, during which time the bark of the cork oak is in the best condition.
Do you already know what a dehesa is?
In short, the dehesa in Spain has become an ecosystem that prioritizes extensive livestock farming, especially of Iberian pigs. For this and many other benefits, at Monjamón we have our own herd for raising Iberian pigs, located in Castilla y León and Extremadura. So, if you want to buy 100% Iberian hams, don't hesitate to contact us!
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1 comment
Pepe
Preciosas fotos! Son de vuestra dehesa?
Preciosas fotos! Son de vuestra dehesa?