Qingyang Black Goat

Qingyang Black Goat

The Qingyang Black Goat is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　The Qingyang Black Goat is a specialty of Qingyang City, Gansu Province. Sixteen townships in the Ziwuling forest fringe area of Qingyang City focus on protecting and developing the Qingyang Black Goat, establishing a high-quality black goat production base. The Qingyang Black Goat is a nationally protected geographical indication agricultural product.

　　It has a long history of formation. Key production areas such as Huachi, Huanxian, and Heshui have historically been impoverished mountainous regions in our province, characterized by arid conditions, scarce rainfall, complex terrain, severe soil erosion, frequent natural disasters, and low and unstable crop yields. The local dry and variable climate is suitable for the growth and reproduction of lambskin and fleece goats. The rugged mountains, steep slopes, deep valleys, sparse grass, and water scarcity make it suitable for raising small, agile, adaptable herbivorous ruminants with a broad diet and tolerance for coarse feed—namely, goats. Additionally, the mountainous areas suffer from endemic diseases, poor transportation, difficult living conditions, and slow population growth. Historically, this gradually transformed the Ziwuling mountain region into a sparsely populated pastoral area. The complex terrain of high mountains, steep slopes, and deep valleys allowed goats, which are adept at climbing and less demanding in terms of rearing conditions, to thrive compared to other livestock. Goat farming developed rapidly, and with the growth of lambskin goat production, under active selective breeding and improved management by local communities, the quality of the goats steadily improved, their coat color became more uniform. In the 1970s, an associate professor from Northwest Agricultural College appealed to relevant departments, drawing attention, and a special survey was conducted on the black goats in the northern part of Huanxian and the Ziwuling forest fringe area. The survey began in 1980 and in 1982, the breed was included in the *Gansu Province Livestock and Poultry Breed Register*, named Ziwuling Black Goat. After the 1988 Gansu Province Livestock and Poultry Breed Resources Survey, it was named Longdong Black Goat, which is now known as the Qingyang Black Goat. Since the implementation of the “Mountain Closure and Grazing Ban” policy, goats have gradually transitioned from free-range and semi-free-range grazing to confined feeding. The production focus has also shifted toward dual-purpose meat and cashmere.

　　Qingyang City boasts abundant grassland resources, with 19.09 million mu of barren hills, slopes, and natural grasslands, accounting for 47% of the total land area, including 10.34 million mu of usable grassland, making up 54% of the total grassland area. Renowned breeds such as the Zaosheng Cattle, Qingyang Black Goat, Huanxian Tan Sheep, Qingyang Donkey, and alfalfa highlight the region’s distinctive local advantages.

　　As a unique and superior local germplasm resource of Qingyang City, Gansu Province, the Qingyang Black Goat has seen increasing efforts in the protection and development of local fine breeds in recent years. The application for geographical indication registration of the Qingyang Black Goat has become urgent. Upon application, the Qingyang Municipal People’s Government approved the Qingyang Animal Husbandry Technology Extension Center as the applicant for the Qingyang Black Goat geographical indication registration. Subsequently, the Qingyang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Bureau delineated the production scope of the Qingyang Black Goat. The Qingyang Animal Husbandry Technology Extension Center organized professional technical personnel to prepare the application materials and conducted professional testing on the meat quality of the Qingyang Black Goat.

　　In 2013, the “Qingyang Black Goat” application submitted by the Qingyang Animal Husbandry Technology Extension Center passed the review of the Quality and Safety Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and expert evaluation, leading to its implementation as a nationally protected geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Geographical Scope

　　The Qingyang Black Goat refers to the Longdong Black Goats grazed within Qingyang. The main production area borders Ansai, Ganquan, Fu County, and Huangling in Shaanxi Province to the east, connects with Tongxin County and Guyuan City in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to the west, neighbors Jingchuan and Chongxin counties in Pingliang City, Gansu Province, as well as Changwu and Xunyi counties in Shaanxi Province to the south, and adjoins Yanchi in Ningxia and Dingbian and Wuqi counties in Shaanxi Province to the north. The main production area lies between 106°50′ and 108°70′ east longitude, and 35°20′ to 37°20′ north latitude, at an altitude of 885 to 2,082 meters. The total area of the main production zone is 24,334 km², with only 20.5% of the cultivated land area being pasture, 38.0% wasteland, 10.6% woodland, and the remaining 12.5% comprising other types.