Chan’e Black Chicken

Chan’e Black Chicken

The Chan’e Black Chicken is an agricultural product with geographical indication status.

　　Production Area

　　The production area of the Chan’e Black Chicken is located in the southeastern part of Ningxia, on the eastern side of the Liupan Mountains and in the upper reaches of the Jing River basin. It lies between longitude 106°32′–106°58′ east and latitude 35°41′–36°18′ north, bordered by Huan County of Gansu Province to the north, adjacent to Zhenyuan County of Gansu Province to the east, sharing a boundary with Pingliang City of Gansu Province to the south, and connecting with Yuanzhou District of Guyuan City to the west. The region stretches approximately 61.5 km from north to south and about 50.3 km from east to west, covering a total land area of 2,532 square kilometers. It administers 3 towns, 9 townships, 156 administrative villages, 4 residential committees, and 808 villager groups. The protected production area for Chan’e Black Chicken spans 12 townships in Pengyang County, with a total production scale of 650,000 chickens.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic-Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: The soil is primarily loessial loam and black calcareous soil, while the topography mainly consists of ridges, plateaus, valleys, and hills. The western part features the Xiaoguan Mountain area, the central and eastern parts comprise the Rujia River valley, and the northern part is part of the Loess hilly and gully region.

　　(2) Hydrogeology: The area hosts reservoirs such as Naihe, Donghaizi, Jian’gou, Dianwa, and Shangwengou, along with two main irrigation canals running north-south. Drinking water for humans and livestock mainly comes from groundwater, which is rich in strontium, and is known as Pengyang Mineral Water.

　　The grasslands are expansive, the soil is loose, and the loess layer is thick.

　　(3) Climatic Environment: This production area lies within the transitional zone of mid-temperate semi-humid and semi-arid climate. The air is fresh, with significant temperature variation. The average annual temperature ranges from 6–8°C, the accumulated temperature above 10°C is 2,500°C, the frost-free period lasts 120–130 days, the annual sunshine duration is 2,518 hours, the annual rainfall is 350–550 mm, and the annual aridity index is 1.55.

　　(4) Humanistic-Historical Background: The Chan’e Black Chicken from Pengyang County is a superior local breed cultivated by local residents over 30 years under conditions of vast mountainous terrain, cool climate, and abundant supplies of both animal-based and plant-based feed.

　　(5) Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Selection of Production Area and Special Provisions: Chan’e Black Chickens are raised by numerous households across Pengyang County. Breeding farms are built at higher altitudes, in dry areas with ample sunlight and good drainage, and must be free from industrial or mining pollution sources, with pollutant discharge treatment complying with GB14554 standards. Ambient air quality around the farm and inside chicken coops must meet NY/T388 requirements. The harmless treatment of dead poultry and disinfection shall comply respectively with GB16548 and GB/T16569.

　　(2) Breed Selection and Specific Requirements: The breed used is predominantly the Chan’e Black Chicken; the production of hybrid breeds with foreign bloodlines is not permitted.

　　(3) Production Process Management: Chan’e Black Chickens are raised in a balanced manner throughout the year, with uniform slaughtering schedules. They are provided with free access to drinking water that meets NY5027 standards. Feed mainly consists of locally grown corn, bran, and miscellaneous grains. The addition of color enhancers, hormones, or any prohibited drugs in feed is not allowed. Moldy, spoiled, insect-infested, or contaminated feed is prohibited. Medications used for disease prevention and treatment of chicks and growing chickens must comply with NY5040 standards. No medications are allowed during the egg-laying stage. Chicken flock immunization must adhere to NY5041 standards. A disinfection pool must be set up at the farm entrance, using disinfectants such as Qiangli Xiaoduling or 0.2–0.4% peracetic acid, with regular replacement of disinfectant solution. The surrounding environment of chicken coops should be disinfected every 2–3 weeks using 2% caustic soda solution or quicklime. The county’s epidemic prevention and supervision authorities regularly monitor farms for diseases. Feeding buckets, drinkers, and other tools are disinfected regularly with 0.1% benzalkonium bromide.

　　(4) Product Harvesting and Slaughtering Regulations: Once the Chan’e Black Chickens raised by farmers reach a weight of over 3.5 jin (approximately 1.75 kg), they are collectively purchased, slaughtered, and packaged by county intermediary organizations, all in compliance with slaughter and processing hygiene standards.

　　(5) Production Record Requirements: Accurate, reliable, and complete records must be maintained for all chickens raised by farmers, including records of introduction, purchase, feed consumption, major production performance, feed usage, and disease prevention and control. These records must be retained for a minimum of three years.

　　Product Typical Quality Characteristics and Quality Safety Standards

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: The breed is characterized by tall stature, sturdy bones, long body with deep chest, broad and straight back, wide and full hindquarters, and short, thick legs. It is a superior local breed developed by the people of Pengyang under the ecological conditions of a cool climate, vast mountainous terrain, and abundant supplies of roughage and animal-based feed.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: This breed is dual-purpose (meat and eggs). The average annual egg production is 124 eggs, with a maximum of up to 200 eggs. Large egg size is a primary economic trait, with an average egg weight of 59–60g. The carcass is aesthetically pleasing with a high dressing percentage—75.9–78.5% for roosters and 68.8–79% for hens. Additionally, the breed is hardy, adaptable to grazing, resistant to stress, and offers delicious meat with high creatine content. Particularly, the black chicken and its green-shelled eggs hold both dietary and medicinal value, making them prized tonic foods.

　　(3) Safety Requirements: In accordance with laws and regulations such as the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law and the Regulations on the Administration of Breeding Livestock and Poultry, as well as the standards for the production of pollution-free livestock products, management of breeding bases is strengthened. Advanced production and management technologies are introduced and adopted to improve production efficiency and reduce costs. The production strictly complies with national pollution-free food production standards including NY5150, NY/T5151, NY5148, NY5149, and NY5147.

　　Packaging, Labeling, and Related Standards

　　Products are vacuum-packed and placed in specially designed agricultural product geographical indication packaging boxes. They are stored in cold storage and transported at low temperatures.

　　Vacuum-packed and designed in specific agricultural product geographical indication packaging boxes, stored in cold storage, and transported at low temperatures.