New developments in livestock systems based on crop residues in China
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NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS BASED ON CROP RESIDUES
IN CHINA
Guo Tingshuang* and Yang Zhenhai
*Bureau of Animal Production and Health, Ministry of
Agriculture, Beijing 100026, China
Tel: 86 10 64192848 Fax: 86 10 64192869
E-mail: Yangzh@moa03.arg.go.cn
HISTORICAL ORIGIN
In the last ten years, China's grain production increased by only about 1%
annually, but the growth of animal production averaged about 10%. It is
obvious that China's grain production can definitely not bear the rapid
growth of livestock. The only option is to utilize feeds other than grain,
and to establish a grain-saving livestock structure. In the mid 80's, the
Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) began establishing demonstration sites for the
utilization of crop residues as feed and, in 1987, FAO implemented the TCP
project in China for the utilization of crop residues as feed. Both were
successful.
In 1990, Guo Tingshuang and 13 other specialists submitted a statement to
the Central government, proposing the development of livestock systems based
on crop residues to ease the problem of insufficient grain supply in China,
to greatly increase beef and mutton production and to partly replace pork.
Previously pork made up 80% of consumer meat supply. Beef and mutton would
also improve the meat supply structure of the population. This proposal
received great attention and approval. In 1992, the State Council ratified
the implementation of a demonstration project for cattle raising based on
crop residues and 10 State-level demonstration counties were established.
This undertaking developed rapidly. By 1996, the number of demonstration
counties increased to 147 in 29 provinces.
In 1995, the State extended the successful experience with cattle rearing to
the sheep sector. In the same year, the first batch of 6 State-level
demonstration counties with sheep (or goat) rearing based on crop residues
were established and another 14 were set up this year. Thereafter, sheep
production began to develop rapidly in cropping areas. A census showed that,
in the first nine months of this year, the total production of mutton
reached 1.2 million tons, 34.4% higher than for the same period last year.
>From now on, both cattle and sheep will be included in the project. In
October 1996, the State Council has officially issued the National
Development Programme for Livestock based on Crop Residues 1996-2000 and it
is now not only the responsibility of the MOA but also an established
national policy.
>From 1992 onwards, the State Council entrusted the MOA to convene four
national conferences to implement the work. 200 million yuan were allocated
by central and local governments to be used for the project. At the same
time, funds raised by farmers for the same purpose reached well over 10
billion yuan. Urea and polyethylene film were also provided to support this
work. FAO and UNDP attached great importance to these projects and supported
the work with experts and material resources. In 1993 and 1995, FAO (in
cooperation with MOA) convened two International Conference on Increasing
Animal Production from Local Resources in China and some FAO specialists and
consultants were sent to China to give instruction (Rene Sansoucy, F.
Dolberg, E. Orskov, J.C. Chirgwin, F. Sundstol and others). With the efforts
of FAO and the Chinese Government, great progress has been made in China.
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
A. INCREASE IN BEEF AND MUTTON SUPPLY
Between 1992 and 1995, beef production increased by 27.8% annually. By 1995,
beef production reached 4.1 million tons, over-fulfilling the Eighth Five
Year Plan target by 275%. For the first nine months of 1996, beef production
increased by 29.6% compared to the same period last year, and is forecasted
to reach 5 million tons by the end of the year. By extending the same
principle to sheep (and goat) rearing, China has also increased mutton
production which was previously stagnant. The annual growth was 9.9% in
1993, 17% in 1994, and 22% in 1995. In the first nine months of this year,
mutton production increased by 34.4% compared to the same period last year.
By developing livestock based on crop residues, vast cropping areas have
already taken the place of pastures, and are rapidly developing into China's
main base for ruminant production.
B. ECONOMIZING ON FEED GRAIN
China produces about 570 million tons of crop residues annually, of which
about 25% is used as feed. In 1995, 75 million tons (fresh weight) of crop
residue silage (anaerobic fermented and preserved corn or sorghum straw
whithout heads and ears) were produced, together with 21.5 million tons of
ammoniated straw and stover (Table 1), thus saving nearly 20 million tons of
feed grain (calculation of grain-saving is based on the so-called "oat feed
unit": 1kg of dry straw equals to 0.2 unit; 1kg of ammoniated straw equals
to 0.4 unit; 1kg of fresh straw silage equals to 0.15 unit).
Table 1: Number of farmers treating straw and quantities of treated straw
Year Farmers Treated Straw
(Million) (Million tons)
1990 0.8 2.6
1991 1.2 3.7
1992 2.3 7.1
1993 3.8 11.7
1994 5.3 15.9
1995 7.1 21.5
C. INTEGRATION OF LIVESTOCK WITH GRAIN PRODUCTION
Rearing cattle in cropping areas can provide 1 billion tons of farmyard
manure which can support 20 million hectares of farmland. The extensive use
of farmyard manure can reduce the use of chemical fertilizer, thus not only
lowering costs but also improving soil conditions and promoting agricultural
production. Fuyang in Anhui Province and Zhoukou and Shangqiu in Henan
Province are areas with well established systems of cattle rearing based on
crop residues. In recent years, their agricultural growth rate has been well
above the national average. Formerly deficient in grain, they are now
rapidly achieving grain surpluses.
D. The rapid development of cattle and sheep rearing has promoted the growth
of the slaughter and meat processing industry, leather processing, and also
bone, blood and viscera processing, giving impetus to the marketing of live
animals and their processed products. The result has been to provide more
jobs in the urban and rural areas, benefiting the farmers, increasing
revenue to local governments and putting new vitality into the agricultural
and village economy.
E. DISEASE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Many places along the Yangtze River are schistosomiasis endemic areas.
Cattle grazing near the river (as well as lakes and water holes) become
parasite hosts. Utilizing ammoniated crop residues to feed cattle, and
moving from grazing to stall feeding, breaks the schistosome cycle and helps
to control the spread of disease. Also, utilizing more crop residues helps
to avoid atmospheric pollution from burning crop residue which is a problem
in highly populated areas.
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DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS
Although the project of livestock based on crop residues has already
achieved impressive results, from the point of view of the extent of
resources and the vast market potential, the achievements gained can only be
considered as a good beginning. Every year, 570 million tons of crop
residues are produced. Up to now, only 25% has been used as feed. Last year,
the per capita consumption of beef was only 3.42 kg and less than 2 kg for
mutton. The aim is to speed up these developments. In October 1996, the
State Council issued the National Development Programme for Livestock Based
on Crop Residues 1996-2000 (Outline). Henceforth, the system of livestock
based on crop residues became the responsibility not only of the agriculture
institutions, but a basic national policy. We can forecast an even greater
rate of development in the future.
There are now outline plans to establish 20 demonstration
prefectures nationwide, and 400 demonstration counties (250
for cattle and 150 for sheep and goats).
The Outline provides that, by the year 2000, China's beef production will
reach 7 million tons, or hopefully 10 million tons. Mutton production will
reach 3 million tons, aiming to reach as high as 4 million tons. By then,
the proportion of beef and mutton within the total meat production of China
will be raised to 20% or so from the present 12%.
By the year 2000, the proportion of crop residues utilized for feed will be
raised from the present 25% to about 40% (or 240 million tons). Crop residue
silage will reach 120 million tons and ammoniated crop residue 60 million
tons, together saving about 40 million tons of feed grain. The ammoniation
technique will be extended to 20 million farming households.
By the end of the century, the number of cattle at the year end will reach
167 million head, with 300 million head of sheep and goats. Cattle, sheep
and goats would produce 2 billion tons of organic fertilizer annually, which
can be used on 40 million hectares of farmland. With the use of large
quantities of manure, soil will improve and large areas of stable high
yielding farmland will emerge.
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MAIN REFERENCES
1. Livestock Based on Crop Residues. Shanghai Science and Technology
Publishing House, 1995.
2. A Statistical Survey of China (1996). China Statistical Publishing House,
1996.
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FAO ELECTRONIC CONFERENCE:
LIVESTOCK FEED RESOURCES WITHIN INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEMS
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