Qingjiang White Goat

Qingjiang White Goat

　　Qingjiang White Goat is a specialty of Changyang County in Yichang City, Hubei Province. Changyang ranks first in central China for its grassland resources, and "Qingjiang White Goat" enjoys a renowned reputation both at home and abroad.

　　The Changyang Tujia Autonomous County is the core production area of the "Yichang White Goat," with the largest natural grassland in central China. It has 530,000 mu of developable grassland and high livestock carrying capacity. In 1997, Changyang was included as one of the project counties for the national "Qingjiang River Basin Commercial Meat Goat Production Base." By 2002, the county's goat population reached 309,000, with 170,500 goats sold, generating an income of 30.12 million yuan. The Boer goat, introduced from New Zealand, was crossbred with local white goats to create the Qingjiang meat goat, which exhibits strong growth advantages and unique characteristics. Elephant grass (which yields 5 tons per mu when cultivated artificially) was introduced from Sichuan and can feed 10 goats. The county has planted 10,000 mu of elephant grass, built 20,000 cubic meters of silage pits, and constructed 180,000 square meters of goat shelters.