China's livestock production today - CHINA - After over 20 years of sustained and rapid development, livestock production has become a pillar in China's agricultural and rural economy, and a way to raise farmers' incomes.

The gross output value of livestock production is a record high of RMB 1 trillion in 2004, accounting for 33.6 percent of the national agricultural total output. About 40 percent of the rural per capita income's net increase came from livestock production.

In recent years, there have been a number of improvements to the livestock production industry in China.

Last year, standardised breeding centres provided for 37.9 percent of the country's pig farms, 73 percent of all chicken farms and 60.4 percent of cow farms. The number of breeding bases across China has exceeded 40,000.

Livestock production now makes up the top 30 percent of all rural enterprises. The pattern of breeding is also changing. There is gradual introduction of breeding patterns such as stabling and half-stabling, seasonal herding as well as rotating herding.

The improved varieties for livestock and poultry are also becoming popular. Currently, holstein cattle and its improved varieties make up 70 percent of total cattle population while Sanyuan cross-bred pigs make up 95 percent of the pig population.

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture is now urging the country to continue transforming the local livestock production industry.

To raise livestock production in China to that of international standard, Chinese livestock husbandries must increase overall breeding quality and set up a standardised livestock and bird breeding system.

Source: eFeedLink - 13th September 2005