Jintang Black Goat

Jintang Black Goat

The Jintang Black Goat is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　The Jintang Black Goat is a high-performance, sizable goat population developed through over 60 years of group selection and breeding. It is an outstanding local meat-type goat breed in Sichuan Province, characterized by entirely black, glossy fur. The goats are large in size, with medium-sized heads and moderately short necks. Their ears come in three types: lop, semi-lop, and erect. They have broad and flat backs, sturdy limbs, and solid hooves. Within the breed, two types can be categorized based on head features: horned and polled. The Jintang Black Goat has stable genetic traits; it matures early, has strong reproductive capabilities, fast growth, and excellent production performance. It is also highly tolerant to humidity and heat, adaptable to coarse feed, and has strong adaptability. Its meat is tender and free of any gamy odor. The breed does not require high-intensity management — grazing for 8–10 hours per day without supplementary feed still results in healthy growth.

　　The "Jintang Black Goat" originates from Jintang County, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. Since the 1950s and 1960s, this goat population has been systematically and purposefully bred on the foundation of long-term natural selection. Today, the county's inventory exceeds 500,000 black goats. The Jintang Black Goat enjoys a strong reputation both within and beyond the province due to its large size, rapid growth, high fertility, strong adaptability and disease resistance, entirely black coat, and tender, gamy-free meat. To date, more than ten provinces and municipalities have purchased goats from this breed.

　　Jintang Black Goat

　　Geographic Scope

　　The geographical indication area of the Jintang Black Goat covers 21 towns and townships within Jintang County, Sichuan Province, including Zhaizhen, Qingjiang, and Huikou, with a total area of 1,155.6 square kilometers. The geographic coordinates are between 104°21′00″ to 104°53′00″ east longitude and 30°29′10″ to 30°56′ north latitude. It borders Zhongjiang County to the east, Chengdu’s Qingbaijiang District and Longquanyi District to the west, Jianyang County to the south, and Guanghan City and Zhongjiang County to the north. The region stretches 68 kilometers from north to south and averages 36.9 kilometers from east to west, with an annual output of 120,000 goats.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　The Jintang Black Goat is large in size, fast-growing, highly fertile, and boasts strong adaptability and disease resistance. Its entire body is covered in glossy black fur. 1. External Sensory Characteristics: The goats have entirely black, short, and glossy fur. They are large in size, with medium-sized heads and a robust yet well-proportioned build. Their necks are of moderate length, backs broad and flat, and limbs sturdy with solid hooves. Adult male goats feature tufts of hair under the jaw. The average weight of adult males is 70.64 kg, while adult females average 49.62 kg. The meat of the Jintang Black Goat is tender, juicy, flavorful, and completely free of any gamy taste. It is delicious and not greasy when consumed. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: The meat of the Jintang Black Goat is rich in nutrition and tender, making it easy to digest. It contains ≥12mg calcium per 100g, higher than other types of goat meat (average 10mg/100g), and ≥3mg iron per 100g, also higher than others (average 2.3mg/100g). Cholesterol content is ≤57.2mg/100g, lower than other goat meats (average 60mg/100g). The goat meat is abundant in various amino acids, making it a premium choice among meats, and enjoys a high reputation in both domestic and international markets. 3. Production Performance Traits: 3.1 High Reproductive Rate: The Jintang Black Goat produces 1.8 litters per year. The kidding rate of multiparous ewes reaches 241.85%, which is 17% higher than that of Jianyang Big-Eared Goats. Using Jintang Black Goats to improve Jianchang Black Goats significantly enhances meat performance. Crossbred goats with 50% and 75% Jintang bloodlines show particularly good meat production — their carcass weight and net meat weight are respectively 5.4–6.4 kg and 4.6–5.8 kg higher than non-improved local goats. Their slaughter rate and net meat rate are also 5.6%–5.7% and 4.8%–4.9% higher, respectively, with significant improvement in carcass quality. 3.2 Fast Growth Rate: At one year of age, male goats weigh 41.38 kg and female goats 33.54 kg, representing 58.6% and 67.6% of the adult weights, respectively. This is 10.1 kg and 5.07 kg heavier than Jianyang Big-Eared Goats at the same age. 3.3 High Meat Yield: At one year, male goats yield a carcass weight of 19.36 kg with a slaughter rate of 48.10% and a net meat rate of 35.91%. Under the same feeding conditions, the Jintang Black Goat shows a 0.1% higher slaughter rate and 3% higher net meat rate compared to other goat breeds. 4. Safety Requirements: The market access of Jintang Black Goat meat follows the People’s Republic of China National Standard “Fresh and Frozen Carcass Goat Meat” (GB9961-2001) and the Agricultural Industry Standard “Pollution-Free Food – Goat Meat” (NY5147-2002).