KADAKNATH

Three different breeds of Black Meat Chicken (BMC) are spread across the globe. These are known as Jet black, Golden and Pencilled. Kadaknath (known as Kali Masi) Native place in India is Madhya Pradesh. 

Kadaknath is a unique chicken breed that’s black in colour. It’s not just the meat that’s black, but most of its organs as well as bones are black too. This chicken is found in the tribal-dominated Jhabua district. This variety of chicken is believed to have medicinal properties in it with 25-27 per cent protein and low-cholesterol (0.73-1.03 %) content. As compared to the other chicken varieties, this one is highly nutritious. The taste of this chicken variety is quite subtle as compared to others, and so it’s being promoted all over.

How to Identify Kadaknath Bird? black plumage with a greenish iridescence, black legs and toe nails, black beak and tongue, black comb and wattles, black meat and bones and even dark organs.

Kadaknath meat is also believed to help regulate the menstrual cycle besides possessing aphrodisiacal properties. The eggs of the Kadaknath, also dubbed 'Diet Eggs', help alleviate severe headaches, fainting spells, asthma and nephritis. Its meat and eggs are also believed to benefit patients with tuberculosis.

Kadaknath Chicken, apart from being very healthy especially in winters, is the meat of a matured chicken. It is very tender, and its taste and texture are quite subtle as compared to white chicken.

Kadaknath hens' eggs are brown with a slightly pink tint; they are poor setters and rarely hatch their own brood. Eggs weight an average of 30–35g. High cost is due to the longer time taken to raise the chicken. While a broiler grows to 2.5 kg in 45 days, the black one takes five months to attain 1.5 kg weight. Further, the egg's fertility rate is very low.

Kadaknath farming is a very profitable agri-business. Both, Kadaknath Egg Production Business and Kadaknath Chicken Production Business are very good and low investment start-up. The breed is very popular in India. The meat and eggs are considered rich sources of protein and iron.

Due to its iron content, its blood is also black in colour. It is also known by names like 'Pride of Jhabua' and 'Black Gold'. Both the meat and eggs of this chicken variety are rich sources of protein (25.47% in flesh) and iron. The consumption of Kadaknath chicken helps increase red blood cells and haemoglobin