Camellia Chicken

Camellia Chicken

　　【Breed Type and Origin】

　　Primarily produced in the four autonomous prefectures of Dehong, Xishuangbanna, Honghe, and Wenshan, as well as the two regions of Lincang and Simao in Yunnan Province.

　　1 Main Characteristics The breed is small in stature, with compact feathers, a proportionate body shape resembling a boat, lively and intelligent temperament, combative nature, and capable of both flying and running. It has well-developed pectoral muscles and a broad, flat chest. The head is small and refined, mostly flat-headed with a few having a crested appearance. Most have a single comb, with a few double combs. The beak is black, with a few having a yellow tint. The iris is mostly yellow, though some are brown or gray. Earlobes and wattles are red. The skin is mostly white, with a few being light yellow. Shanks and toes are black, with a few having a yellow tint. Male chickens are mostly red in color, except for wing feathers, main tail feathers, and sickle feathers, which are black or black-edged. Neck and saddle feathers exhibit bright sheen, and tail feathers are well-developed. Female chickens are mostly streaked brown, with most wing and tail feathers being black.

　　2 Conservation Method A Camellia Chicken conservation farm has been established in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, to undertake conservation efforts, along with the creation of a conservation zone. The National Local Chicken Breed Gene Bank (Jiangsu) introduced the breed in 1998 for off-site preservation.

　　【Production Performance】

　　1 Adult Weight and Meat Production Performance The average weight of a male chicken is 1190 grams, and that of a female chicken is 1000 grams. At 180 days of age, the semi-eviscerated slaughter rate is 75.6% for males and 75.6% for females; the fully eviscerated slaughter rate is 70.4% for males and 70.1% for females.

　　2 Reproductive Performance The Camellia Chicken begins laying eggs at 140–160 days of age, producing 70–130 eggs per year. The average weight of the first egg is 26.5 grams, with an average egg weight of 37–41 grams. Fertilization rate of breeding eggs is 84%–88%, and hatching rate of fertilized eggs is 84%–92%. Broodiness is strong, with each brooding period lasting about 20 days and a brooding rate of 60%.

　　【Development and Utilization】

　　With increasing resident income and improved living standards, urban residents have become significantly more aware of food safety and nutritional health. Market demand for high-quality, pollution-free, green, organic, and safe agricultural products will rise substantially, providing a large market space for the production of Camellia Chicken. Currently, the established Daqingshu Animal Husbandry Technology Development Co., Ltd. has registered the Camellia Chicken trademark and obtained the “Yunnan Province Pollution-Free Agricultural Product Origin Certification” and the “Pollution-Free Agricultural Product Certificate.” In the modern broiler industry, there is ongoing selection for enhanced pectoral and leg muscle development to improve meat yield. The Camellia Chicken has well-developed pectoral muscles, ranking among the top in local breeds, making it suitable for appropriate crossbreeding to enhance the meat production performance of other local or imported chicken breeds. The Camellia Chicken is a valuable genetic resource for improving and enhancing the pectoral muscle ratio of local chicken breeds.

　　Information Source: Jiangsu Institute of Poultry Science