March 5, 2007

China to move into new phase of development in animal industry

China's animal industry has entered a new stage of development with improved quality and productivity, morphing from a quantitative model of economic growth to a qualitative one, the country's Renmin Ribao newspaper reported.

Animal farming in China would transit from a model of extensive growth to an intensive model and change from that of dynamical development to a model of long and healthy development, the newspaper said.

China is now the top producer of meat and eggs globally and is placed fifth in the world on the manufacturing of dairy products.  The animal industry in China now accounts for a third of overall agriculture output.

Animals now account for 30 percent of a peasant's income. In areas with more developed animal farming, animals can account for up to half of peasants' incomes.