Pingnan Mudi Softshell Turtle

Pingnan Mudi Softshell Turtle

Pingnan Mudi Softshell Turtle is a product with geographical indication.

　　Pingnan Mudi Softshell Turtle is one of the high-quality freshwater aquatic products in Guangxi, originally from the Yujiang River basin in Pingnan, Guangxi. Since the early 1990s, some farmers in Pingnan, Guangxi, began collecting wild river fry for artificial farming, and later successfully achieved artificial breeding. This variety features a high meat yield, excellent texture, delicious taste, and high nutritional value, making it highly favored by consumers and offering broad market prospects. Due to its superior body shape, color, taste, and meat yield compared to other varieties, it sells well in the markets of Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, and Macau. For over a decade, despite the Chinese softshell turtle market experiencing a sharp price drop from a high of 500–600 yuan/kg to as low as 30–60 yuan/kg, Pingnan Mudi Softshell Turtle has maintained a stable market price above 300 yuan/kg due to its unique quality. With the development of the market economy and the opportunities brought by China’s entry into the WTO, domestic and international demand for Pingnan Mudi Softshell Turtle is expected to grow significantly, ensuring a bright future for its farming and production.

　　The Mudi Softshell Turtle is an outstanding local variety selectively bred by turtle farmers in Pingnan County from natural rivers. The Mudi Softshell Turtle has a blunt, round, and flat body shape, with an olive green or bronze back covered in large, clear black spots, a wide and thick skirt edge, and distinct symmetrical black spots on the belly, hence the name “Mudi” (Ink Bottom) Turtle. In Pingnan County, many villagers have become prosperous through Mudi turtle farming. Hu Kun, a turtle farmer from Wushan Village, Sijie Township, said with deep feeling: “My family has a 4-mu farming pond, raising over 6,000 Mudi turtles, with an annual output value of 500,000 yuan and a profit of over 200,000 yuan.” Pointing to his three-story house, he said, “Turtle farming has made me rich and built me this big house!” Hu Kun, a farmer in his 50s, worked as a security guard and cement worker before turning to turtle farming. In 2003, after seeing fellow villagers get rich from turtle farming, he resolutely returned to his hometown, scraped together 100,000 yuan, and bought 1,000 turtle fry. Three years later, he not only recovered his investment but also earned an extra 50,000 yuan, building a three-story residential building and a two-story office building. This is the best testament to how turtle farming has enriched farmers in Pingnan County. Hu Kun said he is most grateful to Master Wu Anyi from Pingnan Shuangfeng Ecological Farming Company, who provided systematic guidance and support in terms of funding, seedlings, and technology for him and other farmers. Wu Anyi is one of the first turtle farmers in Pingnan County to raise Mudi turtles. He started experimenting with Mudi turtle farming in the late 1980s, and now has a farming area of 138 mu, with an annual output value of over 20 million yuan, benefiting and leading over 1,000 farmers in Mudi turtle farming, becoming a renowned local figure of prosperity.

　　Pingnan Mudi Softshell Turtle

　　Geographic Scope

　　The registered protected area includes 21 towns and townships within Pingnan County: Pingshan Town, Liuchen Town, Simian Town, Dapo Town, Dazhou Town, Daxin Town, Zhenlong Town, Da’an Town, Wulin Town, Shangdu Town, Danzhu Town, Donghua Township, Pingnan Town, Anhuai Town, Guancheng Town, Siwang Town, Sijie Township, Tonghe Town, Malian Township, Guo’an Township, and Dapeng Town. The protected area is located between 110°3′54″ to 110°39′42″ east longitude and 23°2′19″ to 24°2′19″ north latitude, covering a total land area of 2,988 square kilometers, with a total farming area of 533 hectares and an annual total output of 2,930 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Quality Characteristics: Adult Pingnan Mudi Softshell Turtles have a blunt, round, and flat body shape, with an olive green or bronze back featuring large, clear black spots, a smooth and glossy surface; the skirt edge is wide, thick, and relatively hard; the upper-middle part of the belly shows distinct symmetrical black spots, giving a butterfly-like appearance; when viewed from the ventral side, there is a pair of black spots near the base of the tail, and the ventral skirt edge is light gray. (2) Internal Quality Characteristics: The meat is crispy, tender, smooth, and delicious. Per 100 grams of fresh meat, it contains 16.9g–18.2g of protein, 0.9g–1.2g of fat, 16.1mg–17.5mg of calcium, 0.9mg–1.3mg of iron, and 2.4mg–2.6mg of zinc. (3) Safety Requirements: During production, strictly comply with relevant standards such as the Fisheries Water Quality Standard (GB11607), the Non-polluting Food Freshwater Aquaculture Water Quality (NY5051), the Mudi Softshell Turtle Artificial Farming Technical Specifications (DB45/T460-2007), the Mudi Softshell Turtle Seedlings (DB45/T663-2010), the Feed Hygiene Standard (GB13078), the Non-polluting Food Aquaculture Drug Use Guidelines (NY5071), and the Non-polluting Food Aquaculture Compound Feed Safety Limits (NY5072).