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PGI — Pays de la Loire
Every shell bears the name of its producer: Œufs de Loué tell the story of absolute traceability and complete freedom for farm hens.
Dairy product or egg from Pays de la Loire, PGI (IGP) since 2008.
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Œufs de Loué are more than just a product: they are a symbol of traceability. The Coopérative des Fermiers de Loué was founded in 1958, pioneering free-range poultry farming; the first Œufs de Loué followed three decades later, in 1988. Today, the producer's name and the 'Loué' origin are inscribed on the shell of every egg — a guarantee of direct traceability back to the farmer. Fermiers de Loué remains a cooperative of visionaries, pioneering free-range poultry farming and sustainable development for over 65 years.
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At the beginning of the 20th century, the Loué market was among the most important poultry and egg markets in France: it supplied the Paris region, the major cities of the north and, for the festive season, neighbouring countries such as Belgium and the United Kingdom. This poultry-farming reputation, inherited from a Maine tradition dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, remains intact: Loué poultry and its eggs are recognised across France today for their quality and free-range farming methods.
Today, the cooperative brings together more than 1,000 independent farmers, including producers specialising in free-range laying hens in Sarthe and Mayenne for the production of PGI (IGP)-labelled eggs. The recognition of the Œufs de Loué PGI in 2008 crowned a Maine poultry-farming know-how spanning more than a century.
Appearance
Hard, smooth shell with a characteristic reddish-brown colour.
Aroma
Discreet, naturally fresh, with no chemical scent or odour of cooped-up hens.
Yolk
Straw-yellow colour, rich and velvety flavour — the most prized characteristic when tasted.
White
Clear and firm, not spreading excessively in the pan.
The Fermiers de Loué system — with the producer's name and the 'Loué' origin inscribed on every shell — ensures direct traceability: one can trace an egg precisely back to the farmer who produced it.
4 m² per hen outdoors, 8 m² free-range, on grassy, tree-planted runs
Maximum 9 hens per m² indoors, ground-reared on a single level
Provided for the hens inside the building
At least 60% cereals and cereal derivatives, minimum 5% minerals
Rustic strains adapted to outdoor rearing, with russet, speckled white or silver-white plumage
From 11:00 in the morning until nightfall, by 25 weeks of age at the latest; pullets received by 22 weeks at the latest
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Œufs de Loué can be enjoyed soft-boiled, gently fried, in a fluffy omelette or scrambled. Their characteristic straw-yellow yolk makes them immediately identifiable. The rich flavour needs little accompaniment: fine salt, fresh herbs and butter are quite enough. In baking, they impart a lovely golden hue and a delightful moistness to cakes.
Since: 2008
Area covered: Sarthe, Mayenne and neighbouring cantons
Key requirements: Traceability (producer's name engraved on the shell), outdoor/free-range rearing (4–8 m²/hen), cereal-based diet (60% minimum)
Interprofessional association
Agricultural cooperative
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The Coopérative des Fermiers de Loué presents itself as a pioneer ever since its founding in 1958, dedicated to free-range poultry farming and a production method it describes as healthy and sustainable. It was awarded the Label Rouge in 1966, followed by PGI (IGP) 'Volailles du Maine et Œufs de Loué' in 1996.
Its farmers, based in Sarthe, raise chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, capons and laying hens outdoors on tree-planted runs; the range expanded into organic farming in 1994, with the first organic Loué chicken and egg.
| Address | La Cr du Bois, 72550 Coulans-sur-Gée, France |
| +33 2 43 39 93 13 | |
| contact@loue.fr | |
| loue.fr | |
| Facebook page | |
| @fermiers_de_loue | |
| Visits | Yes — visits to partner farms on request |
|
Part of the production is certified organic, since 2012. |
