Kadaknath, also called Kali Masi ("fowl having black flesh"), is an Indian breed of
chicken. They originated from
Dhar and
Jhabua,
Madhya Pradesh. These birds are mostly bred by the rural and tribals. There are three varieties: jet black, golden and pencilled. The meat from this breed has a
geographical indication (GI Tag) tag that was approved by the Indian government on 30 July 2018.
Breed
The Kadaknath is popular for its adaptability and its grey-black meat, which is believed to infuse vigour.
Its colour is caused by
melanin. The breed is considered to have originated from the Kathiwar Alirajapur jungles in
Jhabua district
Jhabua is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. The town of Jhabua is the administrative headquarters of the district.
Geography
Jhabua district lies in the western part of Madhya Pradesh. It is surrounded by Dahod and Chhota U ...
of Madhya Pradesh.
The
roosters weigh and the hens .
Kadaknath hens' eggs are brown with a slightly pink tint;
they are poor setters and rarely hatch their own brood. Eggs weigh an average of .
Colour
Kadaknath birds are grey-black all over and have gold plumage with greenish
iridescence
Iridescence (also known as goniochromism) is the phenomenon of certain surfaces that appear to gradually change color as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes. Examples of iridescence include soap bubbles, feathers, butterfl ...
. The greyish black colour is present in the legs and toenails, beak, tongue, comb and wattles; even the meat, bones and organs have grey colouration.
Threat of extinction
Due to the relatively high consumption of the breed, its numbers have sharply declined throughout the years. To save the breed from extinction, the state government started a Kadaknath poultry breeding program involving 500 families who are
below the poverty line, who were to receive financial support and assistance.
Scams
Because of the limited availability and increased popularity of the breed since the mid-2000s, there have been multiple types of scams in which both poultry farmers and consumers have been swindled.
References
Chicken breeds originating in India
Chicken breeds
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