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Small Farmers Adapting to Global Markets
Sustainable Agriculture Development Project Phase II
Animal Health Initiative (CCAHI)
Livestock Health Extension Services Project (LHESP)
Integrated Dairy Cattle Breeding
PSRP--Livestock Waste Management
THE CANADA-CHINA BEEF INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
November 15, 2001
1.0 Background
The China Beef Industry Development Project is an initiative that has evolved from several years of consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture in China in support of the development of the beef industry in selected areas. It is also intended to be implemented in close consultation with the World Bank Smallholder Beef Cattle Project. The project is jointly financed by the Canadian International Development Agency ($3.0 million) through the CIDA INC program and the provinces of Alberta ($1.5 million) and Saskatchewan ($1.5 million) in Canada. The project is being implemented through a consortium of Canadian companies including Agriteam Canada (project manager), Canadian Livestock Services and Alta Exports International which together will contribute an additional $1.2 million) to the project. This primarily a training and technical assistance project intended to support the development of the beef industry in cooperation with Canadian commercial and their partners in China. The total Canadian investment in training and technical assistance will be in the order of CDN$6.0 million.
The project's objective is to assist the Chinese to develop a beef industry that serves consumers' growing demand for beef with efficient and environmentally sound production practices at all stages from cattle breeding through to processing and marketing. The intent of the project is support sales of Canadian beef genetics and production technology. The project will assist the development of a number of beef production model systems that are integrated from seedstock producer to processor and consumer. The project will also support the development of a number of adapted production technologies, which could then be extended and emulated through training, and technical assistance to each segment of the production system from cow-calf operations to marketing processed beef products.
The project will consist of three technical components: (1) improving the quality and productivity of beef cattle; (2) improving beef grading and marketing; and (3) strengthening technical support and services to the beef industry. The project ultimately has a broad national scope targeting the main beef production and processing provinces in China. It is intended, however, to focus initially on a few selected areas in order to carefully establish the most appropriate and adaptable technologies for application to the beef industry in China. The Canadian team has identified potential partners and optimal resources in Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Henan, Beijing Municipality and Heilongjiang. It is expected, however, that the project will begin with a fully integrated demonstration structure in Inner Mongolia including cow-calf production, AI/breeding centre, feedlot operations and processing plant and which will serve as the stepping off point for the rest of the project activities. In addition, it is expected that the CIDA INC project will facilitate coordination of project activities and opportunities with the World Bank Smallholder Beef Cattle Development Project (US$100 million) that is being implemented concurrently in Anhui, Shanxi, Hebei and Henan.
2.0 Technical components
2.1 Beef Cattle Improvement
This component will improve both the genetic base and
production methods for beef cattle. The breed improvement
activities will be implemented in conjunction with the central
and provincial government cattle breeding stations in the
project provinces. Simple methods of animal selection that can
realistically be used in rural China by farmers will introduced.
Breed evaluations will be conducted and breed improvement
programs will be developed for implementation through the
provincial AI programs.
Cow-calf and cattle fattening households, as well as commercial
feedlots, will receive training and technical assistance to
improve their management and the quality of cattle they produce.
Technical assistance will be directed at the farms cooperating
with the project and contributing resources to its
implementation. In turn, these farms will become training bases
for the region. Each demonstration unit, or "Dragon Head", will
consist of a processor, feedlots and households, which
established vertical contractual relationships for the
production and marketing of cattle. This Dragon Head approach to
demonstration and technical assistance will strengthen the
market linkages between each level of production.
Assistance to feedlots will consist of one-on-one technical assistance from Canadian advisors and participation in an annual feedlot management seminar. Assistance at the household level will be provided through a pyramid training system, whereby a core group of veterinary, extension and AI service support personnel are trained who then provide technical assistance directly to the households. Areas of technical support will include cow-calf management, cattle selection, crop by-product and forage preservation (ammoniation and ensilaging), pasture management, feedlot management and feeding trials.
2.2 Improved Grading and Marketing
Participating beef processing plants will be supported through the introduction of beef grading pilot programs. These interventions will be closely linked to the World Bank Smallholder Beef Project to a comprehensive, project-supported beef promotion and marketing program to ensure the maximum value-added marketing of project-generated beef and beef products.
2.3 Improved Technical Support Services
This component will strengthen the national and provincial level extension services through training and technical assistance in client-driven extension methodologies, extension program management and with the development of training and technical resources for the beef industry. A national Beef Industry Center will be established outside of Beijing which will become a focal point for beef industry research, extension program development, training activities and beef demonstrations. A comprehensive train-the-trainers program will be completed to create a core of well-trained beef specialists in each province.
3.0 Project impacts
The overall project will mainly have impacts in the following areas:
3.1 Agriculture - Improved Production Efficiency - There will
be a better supply of beef products to urban consumers in terms
of product selection, quality and price differentiation.
3.2 Human Resource Development - Approximately 70% of the
livestock production in China is conducted by women. Improving
the efficiencies and returns at each stage of beef cattle
production, processing and marketing can lead to improved prices
and returns at the household level, thus directly improving the
livelihoods of women.
3.3 Environment - Cattle production can have positive impacts on the environment through the conversion of crop by-products, formerly burned and causing air pollution, into organic manure, and minimizing grain feeding through the use of crop by-products and oilseed cake.
3.4 Institutional Support - Institution building will involve upgrading of existing breeding strategies by working with the breeding centres and AI service stations; collaboration with local research institutions in the areas of genetics, grading, animal husbandry, food processing and marketing; and the strengthening of extension services through the establishment of a beef industry centre and training of provincial livestock technicians.
4.0 Project participants and partners
4.1 Canada
Agriteam Canada Consulting Ltd.
Agriteam Canada is an international development consulting firm
based in Calgary. The company provides a broad range of services
in project preparation, appraisal, management and monitoring and
evaluation. While the company began with a focus on agriculture
and rural development, it has since expanded into diverse
sectors, such as human resource development, governance, gender
equity, health and population, economic development, energy, and
environmental management. Agriteam has 40 full-time staff and
consultants at its Calgary head office, its satellite office in
Ottawa/Hull, and in field offices in Beijing, Dhaka, Jakarta and
Colombo.
Agriteam agricultural projects in China with direct relevance to the proposal include:
* Study of the China Beef Industry - for Alberta Agriculture,
1999-2000.
* Beef Cattle Development Project, China (CIDA INC/World Bank):
1997 - 2000
* Beef Cattle Development Project, China (CIDA INC.), 1996-1997.
* Heilongjiang ADP, China (Heilongjiang Province/World Bank)
1998-2001.
* Northwest Poverty Reduction Project, China (World Bank).
1998-99.
* China Feed Industry Project (CIDA) 1997 - 2002
* China-Canada Lean Swine Project, China (CIDA) 1992 - 2003
Canada Livestock Services
Goods and Services: CLS is an export company made up of three
livestock experts and one technical expert in the livestock
industry. The principals of CLS have been exporting as
individuals for the past 25 years and last year exported to nine
different countries. CLS is the only livestock company with a
full time office in China. CLS specializes also in Canadian
study tours for agriculture. Study tours managed by CLS have
ranged in length from three weeks to six months.
Alta Genetics Inc./AltaExports International Ltd.
Goods and Services: AEI was established January 1, 2000 by
members of the Alta Genetics International marketing team. AEI
was set up as a separate company under the Alta Genetics'
umbrella to market livestock, embryos, genetic technologies and
semen in specific export markets. AEI is also involved in
exporting forage seeds and farm equipment.
AEI operates as Alta Genetics exclusive representative in China and as the beef semen representative in Mexico and sources genetic products and livestock for a number of smaller markets. AEI is active in a number of technology transfer projects providing expertise in embryo production and management, semen production, livestock management and production (beef and dairy) and has carried out a number of small ruminant (sheep & goats) management and embryo projects.
4.2 China
In addition to the Canadian partners, a number of Chinese locations and institutions have been identified as potential areas of focus for the initial project activities. It is expected that the project will begin its work in Inner Mongolia and gradually expand to other locations and centres of beef production in China based on potential and commercial development of beef activities. The preliminary list of candidates include:
Xilingol Hay Station Ranch
The project in collaboration with PFRA would provide training
and technical assistance directly to the staff of the Hay
Station Demonstration Ranch to establish new grass varieties and
develop an appropriate complementary grazing system for similar
ecological zones. Through extension programs in the surrounding
grassland areas methodologies will be developed to adapt the
best approach to location conditions through the network of
cooperating households being coordinated by PFRA.
Ning Cheng Liao Jiao Group
The project will provide training and technical assistance,
extension material, adapted herd management and nutrition
software etc. to Ning Cheng's Branded Beef program directly and
indirectly.
Hebei, Zhangjiakou Municipality, Sandaochuan Township
The project would work mainly with local extension people to
ensure they have the understanding and information necessary to
assist the households to make the transition from mountain
meadows to seeded forage based livestock production.
Hebei, LangFang Prefecture, Gu'an County
The project would assist the different stages of production
indirectly through training trainers, software development and
technical assistance in field research as outlined above.
Henan, Zhoukou prefecture, Shangshui County
The project would assist the different stages of production
indirectly through training trainers, software development and
technical assistance in field research as outlined above.
5.0 TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
5.1 Breed Improvement
The provincial breeding centres currently conduct large-scale AI programs using semen from imported exotic bulls, primarily Simmental, Limosin and Charolais. The project team will then work with the ranch management and technicians, the provincial breeding centres and the central and provincial Animal Husbandry and Extension offices to establish breeding programs, conduct demonstration programs and develop training programs. Training programs on livestock breeding should include specific components dealing with the benefits of and strategies for preserving and utilizing local breeds.
5.2 Cow-calf and Feedlot Management
Training is required for households and feedlots in all
aspects of cattle production management, feed production and
marketing. Technical assistance to commercial cattle production
will follow the "dragon head" model of vertical integration.
Demonstration "dragon heads" have been identified which will be
active partners in the implementation of the project. The
demonstration "dragon heads" will consist of:
Processing, Feedlots , Project ranch in Inner Mongolia ; and
households.
Assistance to feedlots will consist of one-on-one technical assistance from Canadian advisors and participation in an annual feedlot management seminar. Assistance at the household level will be provided through a pyramid training system, whereby veterinary, extension and AI service support personnel are trained first and who then provide technical assistance directly to the households. Areas of technical support will include cow-calf management, crop by-product and forage preservation (ammoniation and ensilaging), pasture management, feedlot management and feeding trials.
5.3 Improving Beef Quality Assurance and Marketing
The development and introduction of beef grading standards should be undertaken as a national program with implementation at the provincial level. With the support of the Small Holder Beef Project, a national beef grading system can be pilot tested in the Project areas and then expanded to the rest of the country by the MOA and the National Standards organization.
While the system can be pilot tested in the project
provinces, and these national standards and monitoring systems
are necessary for the success of the pilot, the provinces should
not be expected to be solely responsible for the design of a
national system through their technical assistance and training
budgets. This need could be met through supplementary technical
assistance and training at the beginning of the project from the
proposed CIDA Beef Industry Development Project. Specific
activities, which could be undertaken through the CIDA project,
include:
a. technical assistance for the development of grade
specifications;
b. in-Canada training for grading system design and
implementation;
d. technical assistance for the design of monitoring systems;
and
e. training of graders.
6.0 Training methodology
Training will encompass cattle breeding, cow-calf and feedlot management, beef quality assurance and grading. The improvement of technical support systems and extension programs will be important to ensuring the broader dispersion of the new beef technologies and the long-term impact of the project. Training and technical support will be given to the MOA and provincial Animal Husbandry Bureau's in extension program design and delivery.
6.1 Cattle Breeding and Production
This activity will support training to improve feeds and
feeding, animal health, breeding cow management and marketing at
the household level. Demonstration households will be selected
and will receive training and technical assistance from the
project training team. Training will delivered primarily
through:
a. training seminars given through the township or village
extension service, and
b. one-on-one technical advice given through the vet and AI
services.
In all project areas, improved feeds and feeding programs
will be demonstrated. Training will be provided in straw
treatments, ration formulation and feed preparation methods. In
Inner Mongolia and parts of Heilongjiang and Shanxi, improved
pasture management techniques will be demonstrated.
In all project areas, training and assistance will be provided
to improve breeding cow management. This will include training
in the topics of selection and marketing of cows and calves,
body condition scoring, feeding and management of the cow, heat
and pregnancy detection, calf care, basic disease diagnosis and
treatment.
6.2 Grading, Quality Control and Environmental Management
The project will contribute to strengthening the
organizations responsible for implementing and enforcing food
quality and safety programs. The project will development
training and monitoring systems for graders and regulations on
the commercial use of the grade "trademark". Training will
encompass a) training in Canada for grading system design and
implementation, b) training of processing staff, graders and
inspectors, and c) pilot field testing of the system.
6.3 Technical Support Systems and Extension Programs
This component will strengthen the national and provincial level extension services through training and technical assistance in client-driven extension methodologies, extension program management and with the development of training and technical resources for the beef industry. A national Beef Industry Center will be established outside of Beijing, which will become a focal point for beef industry research, extension program development, training activities and beef demonstrations. A comprehensive train-the-trainers program will be completed to create a core of well-trained beef specialists in each province.
Introducing new concepts of beef quality, production
techniques and marketing at the household level and supporting
the introduction of new technologies in feedlot operations will
require strengthening of the extension systems for cow-calf
production and cattle fattening. Extension program strengthening
should include the following activities:
a. the development of customer-based extension methodologies;
b. strengthening extension program management capacity at AHBs;
c. development of extension programs and materials for the
household-level beef cattle industry and the commercial feedlot
sector;
d. development and delivery of Train-the-Trainer programs for
existing AI technicians, vets and extension agents involved in
household cattle production and the commercial feedlot sector
including training in technical issues and extension
methodologies; and
e. the implementation of and extension program for project
households and feedlots.
Efforts to strengthen the technical support and extension services should include an intensive train-the-trainers program. Overseas "train-the-trainers" programs should be considered, followed by regular technical upgrading in China. Linkages should be developed between the agencies and institutions developing extension programs and which are conducting research into new cattle production and feedlot technologies so that farmers and feedlot operators are trained in the most modern management techniques.
Extension training will use the "pyramid approach" which has been successfully used in China by the CIDA Lean Swine Project. A team of trainer and a body of extension materials will be developed. This training team will train other trainers who, in turn, will train farmers. An in-Canada "train-the-trainers" program will be competed followed by regular technical upgrading in China. Alberta and Saskatchewan government beef specialists, who have considerable experience in China through previous government-to-government co-operation programs, will work with Chinese counterparts to develop training and extension programs for farm and feedlot managers, AI technicians and animal health specialists.
In-service training will be an important vehicle for training. The packaging of technical information to be used by farmers must be considered carefully to make it relevant and accessible, particularly to women. Education and training opportunities for animal science staff will be required across many disciplines and will need the introduction of new concepts such as animal data management, inventories and evaluation of breeding improvements, the basics of research methodology and technology transfer.
7.0 Implementation of gender equality plan
Key issues to address the integration of women into the
project
Agriteam is aware of the vital role women play in development
projects and processes and recognizes the importance given by
CIDA and various international financial institutions to women's
issues. Accordingly, the company incorporates an integrated
approach to issues of women and gender in all its development
projects.
8.0 Implementation of environmental management plan
The environmental management considerations of the project include a) pasture management, b) reduction of air pollution by feeding, rather than burning, crop residues, c) manure management plans for feedlots and d) effluent management for processing plants.
8.1 Pasture Management
The grasslands of Inner Mongolia provide a good example of an ecological zone that is threatened and can be enhanced through improved management and the development of unique approaches combining Canadian and Chinese technology. The China Beef Industry Development Project will develop a linkage with CIDA's concurrent project on sustainable agricultural development in grasslands. The CEA of that project, the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Agency (PFRA) has agreed to co-operate in a fashion that will augment the respective project impacts and considerably reduce the degradation of the grasslands. A shared site has been identified in Xilinhot to work together in the development of complementary grazing systems, beef cattle management, cow-calf operations and extension methodologies.
8.2 Utilization of Crop Residues
The Chinese government has promoted the development of a commercial beef industry through the "Straw for Beef" program which aims to utilize crop residue, which would otherwise be burned and contribute to air pollution, as a feed resource for beef production. This is consistent with the GOC's wish to decrease or stabilize the consumption of meats that are feed grain intensive, such as poultry. Utilizing these residues requires ensilaging and/or ammoniation to aid digestibility. Farmers require inputs of simple silage pits, cutters and urea plus training in the preparation and use of the feedstuffs. This technical support and training related to the utilization of crop residues is addressed in the "technology transfer" sub-component and the training plans for cow-calf farmers and feedlots.
8.3 Manure Management Plans
The feedlot industry is relatively new in China and environmental management systems are not well established. The main environmental issues are controlling runoff from manure storage sites into water supplies, controlling nitrate and phosphorus contamination of surface and ground water, and the transmission of zoonotic diseases when manure is sold and transported to villagers for fertilizer.
8.4 Effluent Management Plans - Processing Plants
The environmental issues which need to be managed by livestock slaughter plants include the handling and disposal of wash water which may contain blood and bone fragments, the disposal of paunch manure, and the disposal of blood and bones.
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