|
||||||||||||||||||
 |
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 INTEGRATED DAIRY CATTLE BREEDING PROJECT
The Canada-China Integrated Dairy Cattle Breeding Project (IDCBP) is a bilateral cooperation project between the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC). The planning for the Project first began in 1987 when The People’s Republic of China (PRC) presented three proposals for dairy development as their first priority for funding in the agricultural sector. Following a feasibility mission in the same year, it was jointly decided to have one umbrella project to cover the three locations of the original proposals with these being, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Xi’an. Unfortunately, further planning of the project was interrupted by a series of events until 1990 when discussions were resumed. The project was approved in November 1990, initiated in May 1993 and will conclude March 31, 2004. The Project is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture in China with The Semex Alliance of Guelph, Ontario, as the Canadian Executing Agency. The budget of $17,871,000.00 is provided by CIDA.
From the beginning, the project goal has been to improve the quality, quantity and efficiency of milk production in China.
The initial focus of this Project was on the development of nucleus breeding herds at the three locations; Hangzhou, Shanghai and Xi’an. In association with these herds, milk-testing laboratories were established, artificial insemination (AI) centres were enriched and extensive dairy production technology training programs were launched.
Initially, from 1993 to 1995, 210 purebred Canadian Holstein heifers, 12,000 doses of Holstein semen and 400 Holstein embryos were shipped from Canada and distributed amongst the three sites. In 1998, the Beijing Dairy Cattle Breeding Centre joined the project as a fourth primary site. At the end of 2001, Nucleus Breeding Herds had grown to 448 milking age Holsteins of pure Canada breeding with average milk production per 305-day lactation of 8,366 kgs. The AI Centres in Beijing and Shanghai have grown to become the two largest in China. There are now seven AI Centres associated with the IDCBP. They have 170 semen-producing bulls of which 82.0% (140) are of Canadian breeding. These Canadian bulls produce in excess of 1.9 million doses of semen per year, which are being sold in every province and region of China.
At the beginning of the Project, Milk Analysis Laboratories were established with the first testing starting in Hangzhou in 1995. This marked the beginning of milk recording in China, now commonly referred to, as it is in Canada, Dairy Herd Improvement. This program has expanded significantly with a total of 12 DHI Service Centres now in operation. There are 43,294 milking cows on test located in 13 different provinces and regions. The reliability of DHI data on which to base sound management decisions is evident from an analysis of herds on the testing program. Over the past five years, these herds have shown an average of 6.0 percent increase per year in production level and a significant improvement in the quality of milk. The reduction in somatic cell count is over 11.0 percent per year.
The training of technical and management personnel in China, in all aspects of dairy cattle production, breeding, nutrition, and health has increased significantly. There are more than 7,000 participants receiving training each year. Training has spread significantly during the past four years with regular sessions being held in 21 of the provinces and regions.
The genetic indexing of Canadian bred young bulls in the AI Centres, based on the performances of their daughters, began late in year 2000 and is now a regular procedure. The positive impact of Canadian genetics is evident from an analysis of DHI data, which shows an average of 163 kg. milk yield advantage for daughters from Canadian sires. The daughters of the best Canadian sires average 988 kgs. more milk in their first lactation as compared to the locally bred animals. The scoring of animals for body conformation is now based on the Canadian system using the Palm Top Technology, the first in the world. This new technology has been instrumental in classifying 8,375 animals. The IDCBP has also funded postgraduate research in China to develop breeding coefficients, which will further enhance genetic progress.
The need for structured animal improvement programs in China was identified early in the project and the growth in the IDCBP allowed the project to work closely with Chinese counterparts to meet this requirement. Programs such as animal identification, dairy herd improvement, type classification and sire evaluation lead to long term genetic improvement in a population. This in turn will increase profits to dairy farmers.
The Dairy Association of China (DAC) is an organization with voluntary membership throughout China, representing the needs of its members. When the IDCBP was extended in 1998 with an expanded mandate to establish national dairy improvement programs, the DAC became an important counterpart for the project. The first model for development of animal improvement programs came with the animal identification system. The IDCBP and DAC cooperated to develop a 10-digit animal ID system that followed international standards. The DAC then distributed the proposed system through its network of members across China for review. Feedback on the system led to modifications. The DAC then wrote the standards for submission to the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) in China. This model was followed for the development of the DHI and type classification programs and the DAC are in the process of submitting these programs to MOA for review and approval. Dairy producers in China have been able to contribute to the development of their national programs through membership in the DAC.
Many similarities exist between the DAC and member driven organizations in Canada, such as Holstein Canada and the Dairy Farmers of Canada. The IDCBP is scheduled for completion in 2004 and for long-term sustainability, it is important that action be taken which will facilitate the development of member driven organizations in China. If the DAC follows the model of development experienced by the dairy cattle industry in Canada, the membership of DAC will have direct input into government policies. This input is crucial to the dairy industry in China.
Recently, the project has launched initiatives in support of the national strategy of western development as outlined in the most recent 5-year plan of the P.R.C. All components of the project are now being implemented in Yunnan province, dairy villages of Shaanxi province, the Ningxia region and in two locations in IMAR. At the same time emphasis has shifted to the small dairy households, many of which are in dairy villages in poverty-designated areas.
In an effort to support dairy development in villages where the average number of milking cows per household is four, the concept of Milking Centres has been introduced. This system is geared to improving milk yield and also the quality and safety of all milk and milk products with the end result being increased revenue for the individual household. This domestic shift in dairy production technology is occurring particularly in Heilongjiang and Shaanxi Provinces, and in IMAR with an excess of 50 such Centres being established during the past two years.
Future focus of the project will be in three major areas with these being; animal health services, dairy product quality and safety and the transfer of dairy production technology. The emphasis in China on the expansion of their School Milk Program (SMP) coincides with the new emphasis being placed within the Project. To prepare for this new shift in focus, considerable preparation has been done as all the DHI Service Centres have established groups of specialists known as Field Advisory Service Teams (FAST). Many of these specialists have been selected from the group of 148 Chinese management and technical personnel who have received in Canada training as a part of the project, or have had extensive training and experience in China. These teams of specialists are taking the lead in the transfer of effective dairy production technology to producers at the local level. In many cases, these trainers are part of the dairy processing plants where the DHI Service Centres are located but also include specialists from county, municipal and provincial extension units. A total of 12 such Teams of Specialists have been established with more than 50 Chinese Specialists as members.
One of the key elements of the IDCBP which has contributed significantly to its success has been the presence of three Canadian Long Term Technical Advisors (LTTA) in China working closely with their Chinese partners at all of the project locations. Through their advice and training efforts, Canadian dairy production technology and Canadian dairy genetics are receiving widespread acceptance throughout the country. Milk yield is improving at a very acceptable rate and milk consumption is increasing to the point where demand exceeds supply. The development of National Dairy Improvement Programs is a very reliable indicator that the dairy industry in China will be sustainable and will continue to show significant growth in the years ahead.
Links: Livestock Links
Downloads: Dairy Technical Downloads
Copyright © CIDA 2004/7