Kadaknath Chicken Meat Scope and Source of Animal Origin Nutrients for High Altitude Regions

Leh-Ladakh falls in the category of a high-altitude region with low oxygen, low atmospheric pressure and lack of moisture in the air, thus rendering the climate harsh. Therefore, humans staying in this region need different diets, nutrient levels, and other health supplements compared to low-lander people to thrive under these stressful conditions. Chicken meat and eggs have high biological value proteins that play an important role in nutrient supply in human diets. Among them, Kadaknath chicken meat is very famous for its nutritious brown and greyish-black flesh. Its meat contains more protein, less cholesterol and less fat. Its flesh is also known for its various medicinal properties, so it is very popular among health-conscious people. However, fresh chicken production at high-altitude is very limited due to stressful conditions, making poultry rearing very difficult and uneconomical. Kadaknath is an Indian breed of chicken from the Jhabua region of Madhya Pradesh known for its hardy nature to thrive in any harsh environment. Therefore, the Kadaknath breed can be a good choice for high-altitude due to its hardy nature and disease-resistant ability. Hence, Kadaknath chicken meat can prove to be a superfood in high-altitude and such remote regions, especially during the acclimatization period. We have recently started working on the propagation of Kadaknath chicken among the farmers of Ladakh and evaluating their meat quality and medicinal value. The present review focuses on the scope of Kadaknath chicken at Leh-Ladakh under backyard farming, its acceptance, and the advantage of its meat in providing complete nutrition to human consumers.