Many people believe black brings bad luck, refusing to buy expensive clothes in the colour or dress in it for weddings or auspicious events.
But for Phu Phan Royal Development Study Centre, situated in Sakon Nakhon province, black has created value, helping people in the Northeast access higher incomes and a better quality of life.
Established in November 1982 by the royal initiative of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the centre focuses on studying and promoting appropriate development methods to suit the needs of the Northeast, specifically to improve living standards for local farmers.
The centre covers an area of 368 hectares with an adjacent natural forest area of 1,760ha.
The centre is a place for locals to acquire knowledge, adopt new and appropriate development methods, and receive occupational training to improve their livelihood.
The centre also seeks to conserve and protect the forest in the surrounding area, which is an important watershed resource.
The late King's core philosophy when developing the region was low-cost, easier farming that is disease- and weather-resistant, providing a rich source of protein and generating income, says Visut Auekingpetch, the chief of study and development for the livestock section.
The centre develops livestock that suits local farms in the drought-stricken Isan region, benefiting tens of thousands of farmers.
The project started with black chickens. Researchers took three years to develop all-black chickens, including feathers, skin and legs, finally achieving success in 2001. The bones and meat are grey.
Phu Phan black chickens are believed to contain medicinal properties and can be easily raised without complicated techniques.
The centre has registered geographical indication (GI) for Phu Phan black chickens. Many villagers in Sakon Nakhon and nearby provinces raise Phu Phan black chickens, supplementing their incomes.
The centre later developed Phu Phan black pigs in 2006 -- a crossbreed between four breeds of pigs: native Sakon Nakhon pigs, Mei San pigs (which the Chinese government had given to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn), the US's Duroc-Jersey, and American Landrace pigs, after five years of research.
The Phu Phan black pig is medium-sized, easy to raise and known to have less fat, while meat quality is on a par with that of Kurobuta Japanese black pigs.
Mr Visut says the centre subsequently succeeded in developing Phu Phan black cows in 2010. Phu Phan black cows are the result of crossbreeding between native Sakon Nakhon cows and Tajima Japanese cows, which the Japanese government awarded to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
Phu Phan cows are known to produce high-quality beef with tender meat and high marbling ratios.
According to Mr Visut, Phu Phan black cow farming is unique, as the cows have to be raised with sato (a traditional northeastern beer-style that has been made for centuries from starchy glutinous or sticky rice), massages and traditional songs of the Northeast.
The quality of Phu Phan black cows is on a par with Grade A3 Japanese meats.
In the latest development, Mr Visut said the centre's research team successfully developed two more breeds of chicken in 2016: white feather and gold feather.
The breeds are expected to become popular, as they are treated as auspicious animals.
The centre is developing black rabbits, black goats and black buffaloes as new economic livestock.
"A preliminary study has found that the costs to raise black rabbits, for instance, which have high protein content, are relatively low," Mr Visut said. "If farmers in remote areas raise the rabbits, nutrient shortage among children in remote areas can be alleviated."
The centre is also hopeful that black rabbits will help generate income for people in the Northeast, believing that there is also purchase demand for black rabbits in the premium market.
The centre is developing black rabbits, black goats and black buffaloes as new economic livestock.
Phu Phan researchers took three years to develop all-black chickens, achieving success in 2001.