Changshun Green-Shell Chicken Eggs

Changshun Green-Shell Chicken Eggs

Changshun Green-Shell Chicken Eggs are a protected geographical indication product.

Changshun Green-Shell Chicken Eggs are an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　Changshun Green-Shell Chicken Eggs

　　The Changshun green-shell laying hens originated in Guyang Town, Changshun County. This area is remote and underdeveloped, with poor transportation, rugged terrain, and a complex geographical location. The altitude ranges from 660 to 1,597.5 meters, the annual highest temperature is 32°C, the lowest is -1°C, the frost-free period lasts 288 days, the annual sunshine duration is 1,202 hours, the annual rainfall is 1,250–1,400 mm, and the relative humidity is 81%. The area includes the Guyang River of the Hongshui River system in the Pearl River basin, which is 12.8 km long.

　　As early as the 1960s, in villages such as Machang, Yanla, and Jidu in Guyang Town, people discovered chicken flocks that laid green-shell eggs. It was traditionally believed that these eggs could cure colds and flu, so the green-shell chickens were highly valued and preserved, allowing them to thrive over time. According to rural customs, these eggs and chickens were given as gifts during family visits or relocations, helping them spread and take root in other areas. In the 1980s, due to a severe epidemic, almost all chicken raised by farmers were wiped out, except for those kept in isolated, mountainous villages, where the green-shell chickens survived. In the 1990s, although development was slow, increased awareness of disease prevention and control helped raise the number of green-shell chickens. By the late 1990s, with strong attention from the animal husbandry department, breeding and conservation efforts for the green-shell chickens began. Starting in 2000, more than 100,000 yuan was invested in purifying and improving the breed, resulting in over 20,000 green-shell chickens with plumage colors including speckled, gray, and black. Due to limited funding, the breed did not reach large-scale production, but its quality and quantity improved significantly, and the lineage was further strengthened.

　　Geographical Range

　　The protected production area for Changshun green-shell chickens covers 17 towns, including Changzhai Town, Guangshun Town, Daohua Town, Duncao Township, Guyang Town, and Zhongba Township. The geographical coordinates are: 106°11′–106°39′ east longitude and 25°38′–26°18′ north latitude, with a total area of 1,543 square kilometers. The farming scale of Changshun green-shell chickens is 2 million birds, with an annual output of 80 million green-shell eggs and a production value of 160 million yuan.

　　Product Quality and Characteristics

　　External Sensory Features: The eggshells are bluish-green in color, the eggs are oval-shaped, weighing 47–52 grams, with a Haugh unit of 80–85. The egg whites are thick, and the yolk ratio is 30–35%, with an orange-yellow color. Internal Quality Indicators: Changshun green-shell eggs have a delicious flavor and are rich in protein, amino acids, and trace elements. These include 11–13 g/100g of protein, 1.5–2.0 g/100g of glutamic acid, 0.08–0.1 g/100g of taurine, 0.0X g/100g of methionine, 0.9–1.1 g/100g of serine, 0.7–0.82 g/100g of alanine, 620–650 mg/100g of calcium, and 30–35 mg/100g of iron.