Marinhoa
(most common name)

(local/other name):
• Marinhão
• Raça Bovina Marinhoa

The Marinhoa is believed to be the result of crossbreeding the Minhota and the Mirandesa.

The Marinhoa originated in the former province of Beira Litoral, in central Portugal near Aveiro, where the breed can still be found.

The name Marinhoa comes from the word ‘marinha’ which translates to ‘marine’ in English; ‘marinhoa’ loosely translates to ‘sea beef’ or ‘sea ox’. Aveiro is part of a large area where life has been focused both on the sea for fishing and on the rich alluvial soil surrounding the Aveiro Lagoon for farming. It is also now the home the Reserva Natural das Dunas de São Jacinto.

Being a very strong and docile breed, the Marinhoa made a wonderful working animal. Oxen were used for the cultivation of rice paddies, carrying water, plowing for crops, and plowing for general irrigation. Its population expanded into the surrounding areas and became renowned for hoisting boats and hauling fishing nets with their catch.

The fishing villages of Torreira and Mira used Marinhoa oxen to push boats off the beach and out into the ocean. When they returned from fishing, six pairs of oxen would haul the boats out of the waves and back onto the beach. Their yokes were beautifully carved and colorfully painted; fishermen kept Marinhoa oxen in large stables near the beach.

Then industrialization took over and, for economic reasons, many farms replaced their working Marinhoa with beef livestock. Increased milk production in Portugal also gave way to more Marinhoa being replaced with dairy animals. However, because of their gentle nature, almost all farms kept at least one Marinhoa for awhile. But, again for economic reasons, a majority of farms became part-time operations and thus the Marinhoa breed virtually disappeared.

For this reason, the Comunidade Económica Europeia (CEE; Community of Economic Europe) granted the Marinhoa their Denominação de Origem Protegida (Designation of Origin Protection) so that the breed may continue. To this end, the Associação de Criadores da Raça Marinhoa (Association of Breeders of the Race Marinhoa) was started in 1991.

This page was last updated on: 2023-05-18

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