Youzhou Black Goat

Youzhou Black Goat

The Youzhou Black Goat is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　The Youzhou Black Goat is originally from Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County in Chongqing. Youyang has a long history. It was established as a county in the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC), boasting a history of over 2,000 years and having once served as the seat of a regional government for 800 years. In 1131 AD, the settlement was upgraded to a prefecture and named Youzhou. The Youzhou Black Goat is named after this magical land and because its visible mucous membranes are black.

　　Production Environment

　　The distribution area of the Youzhou Black Goat is located in the southwestern mountainous region of Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, within the heart of the Wuling Mountain Area. The terrain includes low and mid-level mountains, deep hills, valleys, and rivers, characterized by dramatic elevation changes ranging from 430m in the low mountain areas to 1,380m in the mid-level mountain regions, showcasing a highly distinct vertical climate. Due to karst landform development, the surface is rugged and uneven, featuring steep slopes and trough valleys, interspersed with mid-level hills and ridges. The area has a subtropical humid monsoon climate, and the vertical agricultural climate varies significantly with altitude, marked by: distinct seasons with large seasonal differences, mild temperatures but uneven warmth and cold; abundant rainfall, but unevenly distributed across time and space—frequent cloud cover and frost, little sunshine, and a long frost-free period. Seasonally, winters are dry, cold, and rarely extremely harsh; springs are warm but prone to fluctuating temperatures; summers are hot with frequent summer droughts; and autumns are cool with persistent drizzle. The region enjoys an average annual sunshine duration of 1,130 hours, an average annual temperature of 14.6°C, annual rainfall of 1,500 mm, relative humidity between 65%–80%, and a frost-free period lasting 280–220 days. The soil in the production area is adapted to its geological, geomorphological, climatic, and vegetative features, developing and distributing vertically in accordance with the mountain climate. Low mountain valleys have soils without obvious humus layers. The organic matter content is below 2.5%, typically found at altitudes under 800m where soil organic matter decomposes quickly, leading to variable productive performance. Above 800m, the soil is mainly yellow earth and yellow-brown earth, generally neutral or acidic with relatively high organic matter content and weak carbonate reactions. The area features significant altitude variation, resulting in clearly defined vertical vegetation zones. Subtropical mid-to-low mountain evergreen broadleaf forests dominate, with key tree species belonging to the Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Theaceae, and Ericaceae families. Subtropical low mountain areas mainly consist of secondary coniferous forests, with dominant species such as pine, fir, and cypress. Secondary shrub-grassland types are the primary vegetation cover in the production area. There are over 72 families, 155 genera, and 225 species of woody plants; more than 2,000 species of herbaceous plants; 20 species of ferns across 8 families and 14 genera; over 70 genera and 200 species of Poaceae suitable for forage; more than 30 genera and 70 species of Orchidaceae; and over 300 species of medicinal plants. The expansive woodlands and grasslands, along with rich vegetation, provide favorable natural ecological conditions for the breeding and development of these goats.

　　The Youzhou Black Goat has black visible mucous membranes—including skin, eyes, nose, mouth, and other areas—which are rich in melanin. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that “black nourishes the kidneys,” helping to enrich yin, nourish blood, support kidney function, and enhance vitality. Modern scientific research shows that melanin is a chemically inert sulfur-containing heteropolymer primarily composed of indoles, which possess stable free radicals capable of absorbing visible light and ultraviolet radiation, thereby protecting body cells from radiation damage. Natural black foods occupy a significant position in contemporary food consumption markets both domestically and internationally, making them ideal for nourishment and medicinal use. The characteristics of the Youzhou Black Goat align with global trends favoring black foods and health-supplementing products. Additionally, the goat's hide is of high quality and serves as premium material for making leather jackets and coats. Goat manure is a high-calorie organic fertilizer. The heart, penis, gallbladder, and thyroid gland of the Youzhou Black Goat can all be used medicinally. The horns also hold great development potential and can be crafted into various daily industrial and handicraft products, such as horn combs, horn seals, tobacco pipes, mouthpieces, and horn utensils. Horn combs and boxes are popular export goods. Goat horns can also be used in pharmaceuticals as raw materials. Goat wool and intestines are valuable raw materials for light industry and are also export commodities that generate foreign exchange. In summary, the Youzhou Black Goat is a valuable animal with high comprehensive development potential and added value, offering opportunities for deeper development in fields such as health products, handicrafts, nutritional supplements, and pharmaceuticals.