Shuangyang Sika Deer

Shuangyang Sika Deer

Shuangyang Sika Deer is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Shuangyang has a long history of deer farming. In 1995, it was named the only "Hometown of Chinese Sika Deer" in China during the first evaluation of one hundred Chinese specialty towns.

　　The Shuangyang Sika Deer is China's first breed developed specifically for antler production. Based on the Shuangyang-type Sika Deer, it was cultivated using a large closed-group breeding method over 23 years. When the breed was established, there were 3,725 deer, which have since been introduced to various parts of the country with over 10,000 bred elsewhere, and now over 20,000 remain. Shuangyang Sika Deer are relatively large in size. Adult stags stand 101–111 cm tall and are 103–113 cm in length, weighing an average of 138 kg. They have a rectangular-shaped head and body, shorter limbs, and a compact, sturdy build. Their heads are wedge-shaped with broad, flat foreheads. Adult hinds stand 88–94 cm tall, are 94–100 cm in length, and weigh 68–81 kg when mature. Hinds have delicate heads and necks, larger abdominal girths, well-developed hindquarters, and larger udders. Both stags and hinds have reddish-brown or yellowish-brown summer coats with large, sparse spots and an indistinct backline. The hair on their undersides and inner limbs is longer and grayish-white. In winter, their fur is dense and long, in a grayish-brown hue, with faintly visible spots.

　　Shuangyang has over 300 years of deer farming history. The Shuangyang Sika Deer is the world’s first standardized breed of deer. In 1990, the Shuangyang Sika Deer breeding project won the First Class Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award. In 1995, Shuangyang was designated by the State Council as the only “Hometown of Chinese Sika Deer” in China, and in the same year, it gained national first-class comprehensive import and export rights for deer and deer by-products across nine categories. For five consecutive years, Shuangyang District has ranked first among all counties (districts) in China in terms of deer population, total antler yield, per-deer antler output, high-quality antler rate, and foreign exchange earnings from exports. In 2005, the number of deer in Shuangyang reached 110,000, with an antler output of 280,000 taels. The deer population accounted for 22.9% of the national total and 39% of Jilin Province’s. Shuangyang has become the largest distribution hub for deer products in China. Currently, relying on the provincial-level development zone—the Shuangyang Sika Deer Industry Economic Development Zone—Shuangyang is leveraging its unique deer industry advantages to expand and strengthen the production of deer and deer by-products. It is expected that by 2020, the Shuangyang Sika Deer Industry Economic Development Zone will become the largest center in China for Sika Deer breeding, deer industry R&D, deer product processing, international trade and logistics, and deer culture exchange.

　　 The Deer Town is located in Shuangyang District, Changchun City, Jilin Province. Covering an area of 3.5 square kilometers with a population of 4,500, it has well-developed infrastructure. It is a model small town in Changchun’s urban construction initiative, a top 100 comprehensive strength township at the provincial level, and a municipal-level “Well-Off Town.” The local economy is dominated by the Sika Deer industry, with three specialized villages and 36 specialized hamlets. There are 2,300 deer farming households, and the total deer population in Deer Town is 35,000. The deer industry market is thriving, with active trading. The annual visitor flow reaches 1.8 million, with 50 tons of antlers and over 1,000 tons of deer by-products traded. It has become the largest distribution and wholesale trading center for deer specialty products in northern China, with products exported to more than ten countries and regions in Southeast Asia.