What is Hongshan chicken? Authentic Hubei Suixian specialty: Hongshan chicken
Summary:Do you want to know what Hongshan chicken is? This article is a detailed introduction to the special product ofSuixian County, Hubei Province - Hongshan Chicken. It was compiled and edited by the editorial team of China Specialty Network after reviewing and collecting relevant information about Hongshan Chicken. The full text takes about 8 minutes to read, mainly including the basic introduction of Hongshan Chicken and the product characteristics of Hongshan Chicken? How did the history of Hongshan chicken come about? Wait
Basic introduction of Hongshan chicken
Hongshan chicken belongs to the "Three Yellow" chicken breed that can be used for both meat and eggs. It is native to Hongshan Town, Suixian County, Suizhou City, located at the northern foot of the Dahongshan Mountains in Hubei Province, and was named "Hongshan chicken" after it. It is also raised in nearby towns such as Shuanghe, Changgang, Huantan, and Sanligang. Hongshan chicken enjoys a high reputation in the Hong Kong and Macau markets
Hongshan chickens were not widely distributed and their numbers were not large in the past. In 1968, with the support of the provincial foreign trade department, a Hongshan chicken farm was established in Hongshan, Suixian County for breeding. At the same time, a production team was developed to run a collective chicken farm to raise Hongshan chickens, and measures were taken to offer high quality and good prices, as well as to reward sales. The public came to the farm to exchange eggs for hatching or purchase chicks, in order to promote the development of Hongshan chickens and promote the production of persimmon milk. From 1968 to 1981, a total of 136000 Hongshan chickens were fattened and exported locally, increasing their income by more than 400000 yuan and exchanging foreign exchange for 200000 US dollars. In 1973, there were around 150000 Hongshan chickens raised in the Hongshan District alone. Subsequently, due to issues such as acquisition price, technology, and funding, the breeding quantity decreased. According to a survey conducted in 1981, a total of 45000 Hongshan chickens were raised in Suixian Hongshan, accounting for about 50% of the total number of chickens raised in the area; Nearly 20000 Hongshan chickens are raised in Qingtan, Zaoyang County, accounting for about 40% of the local chicken population. In 2001, there were 100000 chickens stored in the Hongshan chicken production area, of which 81000 yuan were stored in Suizhou City, accounting for 26.8% of the local chicken storage
Regional Scope
The geographical indication protection scope of Hongshan chicken agricultural products includes 8 towns in Suixian County, Hubei Province, including Hongshan Town, Changgang Town, Sanligang Town, Xinjie Town, Huantan Town, Junchuan Town, Liulin Town, Anju Town, etc. To the east is Zengdu, to the south is Jingshan and Zhongxiang, to the west is Zaoyang, and to the north is the Handan Railway. The geographical coordinates are located at 112 ° 43 '-113 ° 46' east longitude and 31 ° 19 '-32 ° 26' north latitude, with an area of 2800 square kilometers Hongshan chicken has a symmetrical structure, compact body shape, and a relatively full chest. The head is wide and short, the neck is of moderate length, with a single crown being the most common, and about 5% having multiple crowns. The crown and flesh are bright red, and the area around the ear hole is white. The iridescence is mostly red, with a few being deep red. The tibia has no feathers and the toes are four. The early feathers of Hongshan chicken are darker, and as the chicken ages, the feathers gradually turn light yellow. From the perspective of body shape and appearance, it can be divided into two types: "three yellows and one curl" and "three yellows and one droop". The "three yellow and one upturned" type consists of yellow feathers, yellow beak, and yellow shin feathers, with the tail feathers upturned upwards. The neck feathers of roosters are golden yellow with a slight red color, while the Yao feathers are black. The main tail feathers of hens are also black, with an upright body shape and a square body shape. The feathers on the whole body are compact, and the egg laying performance is good, accounting for about 40% of Hongshan chickens. Three yellows and one droop "also refers to yellow feathers, yellow beak, and yellow shin, while the tail feathers droop. The feathers of male and female chickens are all yellow, while the feathers of male chickens are underdeveloped. The main tail feathers of female chickens are slender and drooping, with only 1 to 2 feathers extending from each side of the tail. The entire tail feathers resemble Buddha hands, commonly known as "lion tails". The body is elliptical, the feathers are loose, and the meat is tender, accounting for about 60% of Hongshan chickens. The weight of the "three yellows and one curl" type is 23 to 33% higher than that of the "three yellows and one sag" type, and the body is wider with longer shin bones Hongshan chicken grows slowly. The average crowing age of roosters is 95 to 105 days, and the average laying age of hens is 180 days. In terms of comparison between the two types, at 60 days of age, the weight of the "three yellows and one curl" type is about 66% to 69% higher than that of the "three yellows and one sag" type. The Hongshan chicken produces an average of 140 eggs per year in the "three yellow and one raised" pattern. The Hongshan chicken produces an average of 98 eggs per year in the "three yellow and one vertical" pattern. The difference in egg production between individuals is more than double. The egg production of the "three yellows and one curl" type is about 40% higher than that of the "three yellows and one sag" type. The average weight of Hongshan eggs is about 48 grams, and the "three yellows and one curl" shape is slightly larger than the "three yellows and one droop" shape. The eggshell is solid, with a smooth surface and an oval shape. The eggshell is thicker and the shell color is mostly white, with some also being light brown. The composition of eggs consists of 57% protein, 32% yolk, and 11% eggshell. Hongshan chickens have average nesting habits The origin of Hongshan chicken is unknown. According to local farmers' recollection, their ancestors had already raised this "yellow hen". Under the local environmental conditions, it gradually formed through long-term selection and cultivation based on the people's preferences for yellow feathered, yellow beaked, and yellow breasted chickens, and has a history of nearly 200 years. After liberation, due to the high attention of governments at all levels, the purity and production performance of Hongshan chickens were further improved by improving feeding management, strengthening disease prevention and control, increasing selection intensity, and expanding breeding scale. In the autumn of 1972, Hongshan chicken was peeled into samples and displayed at the China Export Fair, receiving praise from foreign investors and establishing the Hongshan chicken brand. The Hubei Provincial Livestock Research Institute began researching Hongshan chickens in 1958, focusing on breeding, purifying, and improving production performance. In 1973, in order to expand the production scale of Hongshan chicken, increase exports, and exchange foreign exchange, the Provincial Foreign Trade Company and Suixian Food Company jointly selected "Three Yellow and One Vertical" native chickens with similar appearances in the production area to carry out village and organizational farms, which played a certain role in the development of Hongshan chicken quantity and the improvement of quality