Qingshui Black Goats

Qingshui Black Goats

Qingshui Black Goats are a product with geographical indication.

　　Qingshui County is a major goat-raising county in Jincheng City, with a long-standing tradition of goat husbandry. The Qingshui County Goat Raising Association was established in 2005, initiated by Jincheng Qinhelv Yuan Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd., six animal husbandry and veterinary centers in Qingshui County, and 82 goat farmers. It was approved by the Qingshui County Animal Husbandry Bureau and registered as a non-profit social organization under approval number 【2005】006 issued by the Qingshui County Civil Affairs Bureau, Document No. 沁民社证字第【2005】006. Currently, the association has 7 group members and 273 individual members, making it one of the larger social organizations in Qingshui County. Following the principles of equality, voluntariness, mutual benefit, and common development, the association provides services, coordination, and consultation within the industry, serving its members wholeheartedly. By uniting forces from various departments and enterprises, the association focuses on all stages of meat goat production—pre-production, production, and post-production—to offer members comprehensive services such as breeding stock, technology, information, production materials, meat goat recovery, and sales. This has significantly promoted the healthy development of the goat industry in the county. Since its establishment, the association has mainly carried out the following work: First, led by Qinhelv Yuan Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd., it applied for and registered the “Taiyue” pollution-free meat goat brand trademark, successfully establishing a local meat goat brand for Qingshui, laying a solid foundation for expanding market reach and improving farmers’ benefits. Second, it set up service and sales outlets, covering 1,532 goat farmers across 14 towns in the county, and established meat goat sales points in Shandong, Guangdong, Shanghai, Beijing, and Henan. Third, it strengthened technical training, prioritizing it as the association’s main task since inception, aiming to improve members' breeding techniques and thereby boost the goat industry across the county. Fourth, it provided effective technical guidance, acting as a strong technical backbone for the development of the goat industry, promoting the introduction and dissemination of new technologies, and regularly organizing professors from Shanxi Agricultural University, municipal and county livestock experts, and technicians to conduct on-site guidance at member farms and demonstration households, helping solve practical problems. Fifth, it actively promoted applicable goat-raising techniques while supplying farmers with affordable materials. Sixth, it used various media channels such as radio, television, and newspapers to timely release meat goat purchase and sales information.

　　Geographical Scope

　　In accordance with the "Administrative Measures for the Registration of Geographical Indications for Agricultural Products" and based on the specific natural ecological environment of Qingshui Black Goats, the Qingshui County Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau, after extensive consultation, has designated the geographical protection area for the Qingshui Black Goat geographical indication: 14 towns in Qingshui County, Shanxi Province — Zhongcun Town, Tuwo Township, Zhangcun Township, Longgang Town, Fancunhe Township, Zhengzhuang Town, Suzhuang Township, Duanshi Town, Jiafeng Town, Zhengcun Town, Hudi Township, Guxian Township, Shizhuang Town, and Shili Township — encompassing 249 administrative villages. Qingshui County is located in the southeastern part of Shanxi Province, the northwestern part of Jincheng City, nestled among the three major mountain ranges: Taihang, Taiyue, and Zhongtiao, along the middle reaches of the Qinhe River, a tributary of the Yellow River. The protected area's geographical coordinates lie between 111°55′–112°47′ east longitude and 35°24′–36°04′ north latitude. The county is surrounded by mountains: to the east, it borders Gaoping City and Zezhou County via Laomaoling and Yueshen Mountain; to the west, it meets Yicheng County at Dongwuling; to the south, it connects with Yangcheng County and Yuanqu County through Xianweng Mountain and Shunwangping; to the north, it neighbors Fangshanling, Guandi Ling, and Ningjun Mountain, adjacent to Fangshan County, Anze County, and Zhangzi County. The county stretches approximately 150 km from east to west and about 55 km from north to south, covering a total area of 2,676.6 square kilometers, with the protected zone also spanning 2,676.6 square kilometers. The current black goat population within the protected area is 180,000, with an annual production of over 300,000 goats.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: Qingshui Black Goats are of medium build, with appropriately sized heads, large slightly bulging eyes, sunken nasal bridges, small ears that extend horizontally to the sides. Both male and female goats typically have thick, “eight”-shaped horns, though a few may be hornless. Their backs and loins are broad, round, and fleshy, with sturdy limbs and solid hooves. Their coats are long, shiny, and mostly brown, with coarse, long, and glossy outer hairs. Adult male goats weigh around 50 kg, stand about 58.5 cm tall, measure approximately 63.9 cm in body length, have a chest circumference of around 76.3 cm, and a cannon bone circumference of about 8.9 cm. Adult female goats weigh around 35 kg, stand about 53.1 cm tall, measure approximately 59.9 cm in body length, have a chest circumference of around 69.6 cm, and a cannon bone circumference of about 6.8 cm. The average slaughter rate of black goats is 35%, with a kidding rate of 120%. Outer guard hairs can reach over 20 cm in length after 12 months, yielding an average of 7.5 liang (approximately 375 grams) of wool per year. Inner down hair yields over 5 liang (approximately 250 grams) per year for males and over 3 liang (approximately 150 grams) for females. Sexual maturity is reached at around 1 year of age, and physical maturity at around 1.5 years. These goats are excellent for meat production, with high protein content and low fat, offering delicious flavor. Approximately 1 kg of net meat can be obtained from every 2.2–2.5 kg of live weight. 　　2. Internal Quality Indicators: The muscle fibers of Qingshui Black Goats are fine, resulting in tender and flavorful meat with minimal gaminess and high nutritional value. All 15 essential amino acids are present, especially those vital for human health, earning these goats the reputation of being a “culinary delicacy.” The meat contains 17.5–19.8 g/100g of protein, 39.5–45.4 g/100g of unsaturated fatty acids, 100–359 mg/100g of phosphorus, 298–452 mg/100g of potassium, 59.2–71.6 mg/100g of sodium, and 1.21–1.96 mg/100g of iron. 　　3. Safety Requirements: Drinking water meets the standards of "NY5027-2001 Pollution-Free Food – Quality Standards for Livestock and Poultry Drinking Water." Inputs comply with "NY5030-2001 Pollution-Free Food – Guidelines for Veterinary Drug Use in Livestock and Poultry Rearing" and "NY5032-2001 Pollution-Free Food – Guidelines for Feed and Feed Additives in Livestock and Poultry Rearing." Meat goat rearing management adheres to "NY5151-2002 Pollution-Free Food – Management Standards for Meat Goat Rearing" and "NY5149-2002 Pollution-Free Food – Veterinary and Epidemic Prevention Standards for Meat Goat Rearing." The goat meat itself conforms to "NY5149-2002 Pollution-Free Food – Lamb."