Fin gras du Mézenc

Fin Gras du Mézenc is an appellation of origin for a French cattle-breeding product. It is protected at European level by a AOP ("Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée").

Its origins lie in an old practice of the farmers along the Mézenc massif, consisting of slowly fattening rigorously selected heifers and steers in their cowsheds with natural hay, also carefully picked, hay mowed in the high meadows, in order to sell them at Easter fairs. Fin gras probably owes its unique character to the hay used, which comes from a very specific mountain flora that includes plants such as Meum ("cistre" in common usage), which perfumes the meat. In addition, the hay is carefully harvested, sorted and distributed according to age-old local know-how. The animals - steers over 30 months old and heifers over 24 months old from various suckler breeds or from crosses between suckler and dairy breeds - are marketed by local butchers and restaurateurs, mainly located in the Haute-Loire and Ardèche regions.

The determination of farmers and elected representatives to preserve this tradition led, in 1994, to the creation of a scope statement including specifications with the aim of obtaining an AOC, which became a reality in 2006. The aim was to revitalize the region and preserve the intangible heritage of Mézencole agriculture.

This agricultural product is an integral part of the Mézenc culture, and helps to consolidate the coherence of this territory. As a result, a museum has been created to describe this agricultural product to tourists, and a Rural Excellence Project ("Pôle d'excellence Rurale") has been based since 2007 on the momentum created by the AOC recognition.