Duck Liver Mousse with Cognac

Both in the breeding of the animals and in the manufacture of the products we have designed a structure that allows us to offer them The Best of Duck.

The duck is a migratory bird that in its natural state feeds on days before embarking on migratory flights, moving non-stop over distances of several thousand kilometers. It has a very fast growth rate so that the young can accompany the parents on migrations twice a year. Adults can accumulate polyunsaturated fats that allow them to have instant energy for these flights without rest.

In order to maintain a traditional breeding system in keeping with the essence of these birds, Selectos de Castilla breeds the “Mulard” duck, a hybrid chosen to ensure optimum quality of fatty liver and meat. It is a colored duck of a heavy breed of great rusticity.

It is raised in the first weeks within our facilities, in a controlled atmosphere. At 3 weeks, when the feathers are hatched above the down, the ducks go out into the open in parks with access to the houses, and at six weeks they go into large areas in winter parks with sheds that protect them from the cold or in larger parks from spring to fall. The parks cover an area of ​​more than 14 hectares and have plenty of water from the municipal network. This allows the ducks to grow in optimal conditions on ad libidum feeding as they would in the wild, becoming large and athletic animals.

In semi-freedom until adulthood, they acquire the strength that the dry and healthy climate of the Castilian Plateau gives them and a diet exclusively based on cereals from Tierra de Campos and proteins of vegetable origin (soybeans, peanuts, vetch, chickpeas. ..)

During the baiting phase, the ducks are installed in mini parks where they have space to move around without impairing their physical development. Only 10% of European farms have these collective parks that considerably reduce the possible number of animals in bait rooms, but they are essential for the well-being of ducks.

Our teachers feed them one by one with cooked corn kernels (not genetically modified). This method facilitates the voluntary digestion of the animals since the gizzard "works" only in contact with the grain and ensures an optimal quality of the fatty liver based on the well-being of our ducks.

Each baiter takes care of his band from day one in the bait rooms of the farm located a short distance from our slaughterhouse to avoid stress due to long transport.

Selectos de Castilla is one of the first companies in Europe to take care to follow the recommendations of the 1994 European Convention regarding the protection of farmed animals, which since 2004 have been applied within the framework of the EU.

The elaboration of our products is always thought to obtain genuine, smooth and pleasant flavors, using fresh and chosen raw materials, and one hundred percent natural ingredients, with techniques that do not distort the essence of the initial food.

The ducks come from our farm and are slaughtered in our slaughterhouse every Monday of every week. The cutting and selection of the livers and meat are immediate to slaughter. Thus we can have the maximum selection criteria and fresh raw material for the elaboration

Before use all parts; Whether cutting our ducks, suckling lamb liver, Ostrich liver or trout, they are manually cleaned of impurities, skin, nerves that can adulterate both the texture and the flavor.

The confit is obtained by cooking the different parts of the duck or the chosen meats in the duck's own fat over a very low heat. The emulsions are raised by grinding the ingredients at high speed.

The hams are hung in the drying room with their respective salt and pepper. We only use the noble parts of animals.

The recipes are the same that have been used for decades in the preparation of our products. The quality and cleanliness of the raw material allow us to work without adding preservatives, emulsifying antioxidants, corrective of all kinds and the whole range of synthetic additives common in today's foods.

Since its creation in 1989, Selectos de Castilla has adopted Quality as a company culture, understanding Quality as “Aptitude to satisfy the needs and expectations of our clients”.

In 1994, the Official Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Palencia recognized the high level of quality and innovation of our products and awarded Selectos de Castilla the 1994 Silver Medal in the industry category.

In 1996, we developed our first Quality Manual in which the Company's Mission is reflected:
To be the reference company in the duck derivatives sector, as well as in any other activity that it undertakes. Establish, for this, a dynamic of continuous improvement and controlled growth, joining the efforts of partners, management, employees and the distribution network. Maintain artisanal and traditional know-how, taking advantage of technological advances. Satisfy and exceed the demand of our clients, the expectations of the partners, employees and collaborators of the company, raising the social and environmental environment in which we develop.

To achieve these objectives, in 2000 we implemented a Quality system in accordance with the ISO 9001: 1994 standard, thus being one of the few companies in the sector to obtain this quality label, placing it at the top of the ranking of quality producers.

In 2003, we took our requirements one step further and adapted our quality system to the new ISO 9001: 2000 standard

Our demand in terms of quality leads us to train our staff regularly in all areas of importance to the company. Thus, our Quality Director has been certified as an IRCA Auditor (ISO 9001: 2000 Auditor / Lead Auditor Program IRCA / 2245).

Quality and human resources are our most important assets to compete and adapt to the needs of the current and future market. Our company culture will allow us to face decisively and firmly the challenge that our mission represents.

Selectos de Castilla has maintained an activity and growth respectful with the environment since its inception.

At the factory level, Selectos de Castilla has been a partner of ECOEMBALAJES ESPAÑA since its creation in 1998 and contributes annually to recycle all the packaging it puts on the market. All the containers used are perfectly recyclable.

The recipes that we use to make our products are traditional.

The manufacturing processes do not require the use of chemical products, and in the elaboration of our products, no colorant, preservative or any chemical or synthetic additive enters at any time. Clean and selected genuine natural raw materials are used that are treated with mechanical or thermal techniques.

The Elaboration plant is located in the surroundings of the town and old buildings have been rehabilitated and built with materials and architecture that are integrated into the landscape and respect the environment.

At the fuel level, Selectos de Castilla is investing to replace gas fuel with thermal solar energy to produce the hot water it needs, as well as photovoltaic solar energy to supply electricity consumption.

At the level of livestock, it is done extensively, as naturally as possible, using natural raw materials. Ducks are raised outdoors for the time necessary to become adults and acquire good muscle development. The manure that is collected is spread on nearby farmland to fertilize the cereal plots.

Selectos de Castilla has a farm with 14 hectares destined to parks for ducks, and 95 hectares that have been reforested between 1999 and 2006 with native species - Encina, Almendro, Quejigo, Pino Piñonero

The Farm and the Factory are located in the municipality of Villamartin de Campos, in the Land of Campos Palentina.

The rearing rooms and the bait rooms are in the open field, integrating into the environment thanks to the materials and colors used. They are located 1.5 km from the town in order to avoid cross contamination. The summer fences are separated from this area in other parcels of the Municipality.

The Factory is located on the outskirts of the town, built in an old era enclosed by wall according to the local architecture in the ruins of what was once a typical dovecot of Tierra de Campos.

It has its own slaughterhouse and cutting rooms, workshops, cold rooms, labeling rooms, warehouses ... necessary for its activity.