Kadaknath, known for its black meat, is a breed of:

Kadaknath is an indigenous breed of chicken from the Jhabua and Dhar districts of western Madhya Pradesh. It is famous for its black colour: its feathers, skin, beak, legs, meat and even internal organs are black or dark grey.

Why it is black:

The black colour is caused by a high deposit of melanin pigment in its tissues, a condition called fibromelanosis.

Local names:

• It is locally called "Kali Masi", meaning a fowl with black flesh.
• It has traditionally been reared by Bhil and Bhilala tribal communities.

Nutritional and other claims:

• Kadaknath meat is often described as high in protein and iron and lower in fat and cholesterol than ordinary broiler chicken.
• It has been used in traditional tribal medicine.
• Because of its rarity and reputation, it sells at much higher prices than ordinary chicken, and its eggs are also costly.

Geographical Indication (GI) tag:

In 2018, Madhya Pradesh received the GI tag for Kadaknath chicken meat (from Jhabua), after a dispute with Chhattisgarh, which had also claimed the breed.

Conservation and promotion:

Earlier, the breed was declining, but government hatcheries, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and cooperatives in Madhya Pradesh and other states now promote Kadaknath rearing as a livelihood for tribal farmers.

Other indigenous chicken breeds of India:

• Aseel: a fighting breed known for strength, from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• Chittagong (Malay): a tall breed.
• Ghagus: from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• Danki, Miri, Nicobari and Busra.
• Nicobari fowl: a short-legged breed of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Improved varieties:

Vanaraja and Gramapriya are improved dual-purpose varieties developed by the ICAR Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad, for backyard rearing.

Poultry in India:

India is one of the largest producers of eggs and broiler meat in the world.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Duck breeds of India include the Khaki Campbell (exotic) and indigenous breeds of Kerala and the north-east.
• ✗Sheep breeds include Marwari, Chokla and Deccani.
• ✗Pig breeds include Ghungroo of West Bengal and Doom of Assam.