Pu'er Piaojī (Scoop Chicken)

Pu'er Piaojī

Pu'er Piaojī is a product certified with a Geographical Indication for Agricultural Products.

　　Piaojī is a local chicken breed from Pu'er City. According to the Zhenyuan County Annals, “In the 30th year of the Republic of China (1941), the county had over 100,000 chickens, including a small number of Piaojī.” and “Piaojī are rare and mainly distributed in the Wuliang Mountains and Ailao Mountain areas.” Based on the historical background, local geographical and climatic conditions, it is inferred that the formation of the Piaojī may be due to genetic mutations in certain traits, resulting in its unique physical characteristics such as the absence of a tailbone, coccygeal vertebrae, uropygial gland, and main tail feathers. These distinctive traits have remained stable under long-term natural environmental conditions. Additionally, some local tailed chickens raised alongside Piaojī also carry these genetic traits. Surveys among poultry farmers in the distribution area found that some offspring of tailed roosters and hens exhibit Piaojī-like features, while some offspring of Piaojī also show traits of tailed chickens. Furthermore, according to elders in the area, Piaojī have existed since their childhood, and legends passed down from previous generations say that Piaojī were bred from wild bare (round) guīlū (also known as small round chickens without main tail feathers) from the mountains and local domestic chickens, and were later domesticated through prolonged breeding. The breed was discovered during the 1980 livestock breed resource survey in Simao City but did not receive much attention. In the 2006 livestock genetic resources survey, only 201 Piaojī were found, putting the breed on the brink of extinction and prompting attention from local animal husbandry authorities. Efforts were made to secure provincial and municipal support for the conservation of the Piaojī, and by the end of 2007, the population had grown to 1,086. On June 26, 2009, the "No. 15 Announcement of the Yunnan Provincial Department of Agriculture, 2009" listed Piaojī as a provincially protected livestock genetic resource. On January 15, 2010, the "No. 1325 Announcement of the Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China" included Piaojī in the National Livestock Genetic Resources Directory. In December 2010, it was recorded in the "Chinese Livestock Genetic Resources · Poultry Volume." In the same year, local governments and animal husbandry technical departments formulated the "Piaojī Conservation Management Measures" and the "Conservation and Development Plan," proposing the principle of “conservation first, then development.” In October 2011, Piaojī was selected as one of Yunnan’s “Six Famous Chickens” in a competition organized by the Yunnan Provincial Department of Agriculture and other departments, which also featured the “Six Famous Pigs,” “Six Famous Cattle,” “Six Famous Sheep,” and “Six Famous Fish.”

　　The most noticeable difference between Piaojī and ordinary indigenous chickens is the lack of a tail. Dissection reveals that Piaojī do not have a coccyx, coccygeal vertebrae, tail feathers, sickle feathers, or uropygial gland — in other words, Piaojī lack the typical fleshy tail protuberance seen in other chickens. Due to the absence of a tail and the fleshy protrusion, local residents have long considered Piaojī to be an inauspicious symbol. As a result, they were often slaughtered once they grew slightly larger, which contributed to the breed’s inability to increase in numbers for a long time.

　　Distribution Range

　　Piaojī are mainly distributed in Zhenyuan Yi, Hani and Lahu Autonomous County. There are also small populations in neighboring Ning’er Hani and Yi Autonomous County and Mojiang Hani Autonomous County. Based on historical origin and the area’s unique geography and climate, it is believed that genetic mutations caused the loss of a tail, resulting in this unique physique, which has remained stable over time.

　　Living Environment

　　According to interviews with farmers (elders) in Tianba Township and Jiujia Township of Zhenyuan County, the main production areas, “Piaojī are the result of crossbreeding between wild small bare chickens (without main tail feathers) from the mountains and local domestic chickens.” They reported that their ancestors raised these chickens, and even earlier generations had done so, indicating that Piaojī have a long history that can be traced back many centuries. The Zhenyuan County Annals state that in 1941, there were over 100,000 chickens in the county, including a small number of Piaojī. “Piaojī are rare and mostly found in the Ailao Mountain area.” Based on the breed’s history and the local geography and climate, it is inferred that genetic changes led to the loss of a tail and formation of a distinct body shape, which then became stable over a long period in the local environment.

　　【Breed Type and Place of Origin】

　　Piaojī are a dual-purpose breed for both meat and eggs. The place of origin and main production area is Zhenyuan County, Pu'er City, Yunnan Province. They are primarily found in Tianba Village, Waqiao Village, and Sanhe Village in Tianba Township; Zhězhěng Village in Zhědōng Town; Mòqìng Village and Xuānhé Village in Ànbǎn Town. There are also small populations in Méizǐ Township of Ning’er County.

　　1 Main Characteristics: Commonly referred to as “Bimáo Chicken” (Closed Feather Chicken), Piaojī are named for their tail’s spoon-like shape, caused by the absence of a coccyx, coccygeal vertebrae, tail feathers, sickle feathers, or uropygial gland. The breed is small and compact, with drooping tail feathers, a plump and smooth rump, resembling the shape of a gourd ladle. The beak is short and thick, and comes in black, yellow-green, or iron-gray colors. Most have a single comb with 6–8 points, though some have rose combs. Combs and wattles are usually dark purple or black, with a few being red. Skin color is predominantly black, with a few white individuals. Shanks are typically black, though some are yellow. A small number of individuals display feathered-leg, fuzzy, bare, or feather-foot traits. Roosters have large, thick, upright combs in shades of crimson, black-and-white speckled, or pure white, all with a glossy sheen. Hens have smaller, thinner combs, with feather colors including yellow speckled, black speckled, black-and-white, solid black, solid white, or grayish-white. Chicks have down feathers in tones of brownish-yellow, white, black, or gray.

　　2 Conservation Method: Gene bank preservation. The National Local Chicken Breed Gene Bank (Jiangsu) introduced the breed in 2009 for off-site conservation.

　　【Production Performance】

　　1 Adult Weight and Meat Production: Average weight for adult chickens is 2078 grams for roosters and 1683 grams for hens. At 532 days old, the semi-eviscerated slaughter rate is 82.3% for roosters and 79% for hens; the fully eviscerated rate is 72.3% for roosters and 65.1% for hens.

　　2 Reproductive Performance: Piaojī begin laying eggs between 160–190 days of age, producing 100–130 eggs annually. The average weight of the first egg is 47 grams, and the average egg weight is 52 grams. Under natural mating conditions, fertility rates range from 60–80%, and hatching rates are around 80%. Hens tend to brood strongly, nesting 5–6 times per year.

　　【Development and Utilization】

　　Piaojī are unique in appearance and are one of China’s rare native chicken breeds. They are known for their gentle temperament, strong adaptability, fast fattening ability, good meat production, and high meat quality. However, the breed’s population is currently small, and reproductive performance is relatively low. Future efforts should focus on strengthening breed conservation and conducting systematic selective breeding.

　　Location: Yunnan

　　Applicant: Pu'er Animal Husbandry Workstation

　　Year: 2014

　　Region Covered

　　Pu'er Piaojī are produced in Zhenyuan County, Mojiang County, Ning’er County, Jingdong County, and Jinggu County in Pu'er City, Yunnan Province, spanning 25 townships. This includes Enle Town, Anban Town, Mengda Town, Zhedong Town, Jiujia Town, Zhen'tai Township, Tianba Township, Gucheng Township, and Heping Township in Zhenyuan County; Fengshan Township, Zhengxing Town, and Jinggu Township in Jinggu County; Huashan Township, Jingfu Township, Wenjing Town, and Dajie Township in Jingdong County; Tuántián Township, Jǐngxīng Township, and Xīnfǔ Township in Mojiang County; and Níng'ěr Town, Mòhēi Town, Tongxin Township, Méngxiān Township, Dé'ān Township, and Méizǐ Township in Ning’er County. The geographical coordinates span 100°33′ to 105°15′ east longitude and 20°16′ to 24°06′ north latitude, covering a distance of 105.5 km from east to west and 87.5 km from north to south. The breeding area spans 11,325.24 square kilometers, with an annual inventory of 69,931 Piaojī.