KADAKNATH

The Kadaknath or Kali Masi is one of the rarest poultry breed of India which is native to Jhabua, Dhar districts of western Madhya Pradesh and Dantewada, district of Chhattisgarh, where it is known as "Kali masi" (fowl having black flesh, black beak, black feathers). Kadaknath breed is popular for its black meat and known as BMC (black meat chicken). Kadaknath has now got a geographical indication (GI) tag and got approved by Indian government on 30th July 2018.

Kadaknath chicken breed is famous for its meat quality, texture and taste. The demand for Kadaknath chicken is growing day by day and spread across most of the Indian states due to their excellent medicinal values. Especially these birds bear great medicinal value in homeopathy and useful in treating a particular nervous disorder. Kadaknath chicken meat is in black colour and eggs are in brown colour.

A normal poultry hen is selectively bred to lay 280-320 eggs out of 365 days in a year, where asKadaknath Hens lays around 120-130 eggs a year taking the same amount of feed as that of a normal poultry selective breed. A Kadaknath takes nearly thrice the time to attain half the body weight of a broiler chicken. Kadaknath lives till the age of 12 years gains a maximum of 1.25- 2kg. body weight.

COST OF REARING A KADAKNATH IS NERALY 4 TIMES HIGHER THAN THAT OF A REGULAR BROILER CHICKEN.