November 5, 2003

 

 

China's Inner Mongolia Apparently Not Considering to Import Dairy Cows From New Zealand

 

China's northern region of Inner Mongolia plans to import 100,000 dairy cows worth around $US100 million ($NZ165 million) in the next few years in what would be one of the country's largest livestock deals.

 

But the Mongolians are apparently not considering buying New Zealand dairy cows.

 

"We're looking at importing the cows from Australia, the United States or Canada of good quality and at reasonable prices," Zheng Wenjing, vice director of the development and reform commission in Inner Mongolia's capital city of Baotou, said Monday.

 

"It's part of our plan to improve our dairy business and thus improve the quality of life for our nomads and help develop Inner Mongolia's dairy sector."

 

Zheng said Inner Mongolia has plans to import the cows over the next few years, starting in 2004.

 

The cows would be sold to China's biggest makers of dairy products, Yili Industrial Group Co and Mengniu Dairy Co, both based in Inner Mongolia.

 

"Principally it's a result of the extent of demand in China for dairy production and there is a rapid increase in dairy production there," said Livecorp chief executive Kevin Shiell. "Some 40% of the population don't have access to dairy products and there is a consious Government effort to build production.

 

"We're fortunately in a position to be able to supply, whereas Europe is not able to because of the mad cow disease concerns".

 

New Zealand has had an access protocol for the export of live cattle to China since December 1997, when New Zealand's then chief veterinary officer Barry O'Neil travelled to Beijing.

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