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

Lean Swine

Livestock Feed Industry

Dry-land Agriculture

Nutrient Management

PSRP--Livestock Waste Management

PSRP--
Agro-vocational Education

Beef Industry Development

Tibet Basic Human Needs

IMAR Biodiversity Protection

THE CANADA-CHINA LEAN SWINE PROJECT

The China Canada Lean Swine project is a bilateral cooperation project being implemented under a memorandum of understanding between the Governments of China and Canada. The purpose of the project is to transfer and disseminate lean swine genetics and requisite technology to the commercial farm level in China including specialised pig households (SPHs). The project is co-ordinated by the Department of International Co-operation and the General Station of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The project began in December 1992 and recently entered into a five-year extension, which will continue until March, 2003. The initial focus of the project was to set up three nucleus swine breeding herds, which included the Jinhua Pig Breeding Farm (Zhejiang), the Neijiang Pig Breeding Farm (Sichuan) and the Yutian Pig Breeding Farm (Hebei). Additional facilities such as a feed mill, a veterinary laboratory and a training centre for lean swine technology and management have also been established at each site. In total, 827 pure-bred Canadian Yorkshire and Landrace pigs were imported from Canada and distributed amongst the three project sites in 1995 and 1996. By the end of March 1998, more than 5000 pure-bred progeny from the three nucleus herds have been distributed to more than 700 customers and farmers who are located in 24 of the provinces of China. The initial feedback from the industry and reputation of the project pigs clearly indicates customer satisfaction with the performance of the breeding stock and their offspring. This is also reflected in the overwhelming demand for the breeding stock which are sold at competitive market prices. The three breeding farms and associated feed mills have been established as commercial enterprises to ensure their sustainability and all of them showed a profit in the 1997 fiscal year.

The focus of the project extension until March, 2003 is to further disseminate lean swine genetics and requisite technology in Sichuan, Hebei and Zhejiang and to ensure that the commercial farms and specialised pig households are able to benefit from the improved genetics and technology in a sustainable fashion. The project plan includes a comprehensive program of competency-based (DACUM) training initiatives at different levels including large commercial producers and the village-based specialised pig households, of which a significant proportion are managed by women. The program is integrated in support of the GOC policy to incorporate more of the improved lean swine genetics in the national herd, improve feed conversion and increase the availability of lean pork.

There are five Canadian long-term technical advisors associated with the project and who are living in China at the project sites. It is expected that the project programs will serve as a model for future development of the swine industry and the interest in the project activities to date indicates that there is widespread acceptance of the genetics and requisite technology. Although the project is focused in three key provinces, it also supports nationally based programs for technical and managerial training, information systems and the development of appropriate policies related to the swine industry.
 

Links:  Livestock Links

Downloads:  Lean Swine Technical Downloads