August 6, 2013

Drought causes huge losses for Hunan's livestock industry

Hunan provincial government reported that the month-long drought in July had caused losses of RMB790 million (US$128.95 million) in its livestock industry.

According to the preliminary estimates of Hunan Provincial Bureau of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, 540,000 head of livestock animals were facing problem accessing water, which resulted in lower productivity, diseases or deaths. Large swathes of grass at natural pastures also withered or died under the sweltering heat.

Despite the dire news, Tangrenshen Group Co., Ltd. and Dakang Pasture Farming Co., Ltd., two largest livestock and animal husbandry enterprises in Hunan, stated that their farming facilities weathered the blight and business were not affected.

Secretary of the board at Tangrenshen Group, Sun Shuangsheng, says, "Backyard farms are more vulnerable to the drought."