Mashan Black Goat

Mashan Black Goat

The Mashan Black Goat is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Mashan County — the “Hometown of China’s Black Goats.” Currently, there are 23,100 households raising black goats in the county, accounting for about 25% of the county’s over 90,000 farming households, with a total herd of 153,000. From January to October this year, the county exported 66,000 black goats to Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian countries and regions, generating foreign exchange earnings of $5 million for the country, representing year-on-year increases of 46% and 48%, respectively. To ensure the realization of the goal of “enriching the people and strengthening the county through goat breeding,” the county has issued policies such as the “Decision on Accelerating the Industrialization of Black Goat Farming,” focusing on building the black goat brand. The aim is to raise the annual slaughter volume of black goats to 250,000 by 2006, further strengthening and expanding the black goat industry.

　　Mashan is a mountainous region. Since the 1960s, the county has been raising black goats. Once you arrive in Mashan, you’ll find that the title “Hometown of China’s Black Goats” is truly well-deserved: every hill and valley is dotted with gentle and robust black goats, creating a unique scenic sight. Many local farmers have achieved prosperity thanks to black goat farming — the mountain-dwelling people have found a “lucrative path” by living off the land. Whether it's hosting foreign guests or family gatherings, a distinctive dish — black goat meat — is always on the table, leaving visitors from far and wide deeply impressed...

　　The Mashan Black Goat has an all-black coat, fast growth rate, thick and full meat, soft and fine fur, and a high proportion of lean meat. It is renowned for its tender and delicious meat, minimal gaminess, sweet taste, and high nutritional value. It enjoys a strong reputation in southeastern coastal areas of China as well as in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, and is a designated breed supplied exclusively to Hong Kong.

　　The Mashan Black Goat has three main characteristics:

　　1. Superior quality with notable health benefits. The Mashan Black Goat has an all-black coat and grows quickly. Under normal feeding conditions, goats reach a weight of 27–30 kilograms by one year of age. They have a high fertility rate, producing 1.8 litters per year with an average of 1.5 kids per litter, and a high dressing percentage of up to 50%. Raised in the karst mountainous region, they feed on wild plants and drink from mountain springs. The meat is tender, delicious, low in fat, high in vitamins and protein, and contains far less cholesterol than other types of poultry or livestock meat, earning it recognition as a true pollution-free green food. The county maintains an annual inventory of 100,000 black goats, mainly exported to Guangdong, Hong Kong, and other regions.

　　2. The “Mashan Black Goat” trademark has been successfully registered, and the brand effect is becoming increasingly prominent.

　　3. Broad market prospects. The “Mashan Live Sheep Transit Facility for Hong Kong Supply” simplifies inspection and tagging procedures for exported black goats, ensuring one permit per animal that travels with the animal to guarantee quality. In 2002, 600,000 black goats were exported via the Mashan Live Sheep Transit Facility for Hong Kong Supply, including over 50,000 sent to Hong Kong. The supply price for live goats destined for Hong Kong was ¥15.6 per kilogram, which is 56% higher than the domestic price of ¥10 per kilogram at the time, and the product was in high demand.