Cattle production: PR China and Republic of Serbia

Abstract

The paper presents data on the cattle industry in the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Serbia. China is the third largest dairy producing country and the third largest beef producing country in the world. In 2011, the dairy cow population in China was 14.4 million. Chinese dairy breed is mainly obtained by grading hybridization from Holstein, Simmental, etc. which were introduced from foreign countries, and local cattle breeds for long time to form the offspring with stable genetic characteristics. Currently, the dairy breeds cultured in China mainly include Chinese Holstein, Chinese Simmental, dairy buffalo, Brown cattle, Sanhe cattle, etc. Chinese Holstein accounts for about 80% of the total dairy cattle. From 2000 to 2007, Chinese beef production has always been in a rapid growth phase, with an increase from 5.054 million tons to 6.134 million tons, reached a historical highest level of 6.355 million tons in 2009, but rapidly declined since 2009, and dropped to 5 million tons in 2011. In addition, the amounts of reproduction cow and beef cattle in stock were also declined. In 2011, there were about 32.7 million beef cattle slaughtered, and the beef cattle population was about 80 million at the end of 2011, the beef carcass yield was about 5.5 million tons, the national average carcass weight was 201.5kg/cow, and the production value of beef cattle was about 200.75 billion Yuan. Currently, the amount of reproduction cow in stock declined sharply; the contradiction between the lack of cattle resource and the continued growth of beef consumption is more and more serious. Chinese dairy farming is mainly concentrated in the North, Northeast and Northwest of China, the dairy cows population in Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Heilongjiang and Hebei account for 60% of the total population in China; the beef cattle is mainly concentrated in rural areas as Henan, Shandong and Hebei provinces, accounting for 80% of the national amount of slaughtered beef cattle. In recent years, the superior regions of beef cattle breeding have been gradually shifted towards north and southwest. The beef cattle industry in Heilongjiang Province, Sichuan Province, Yunnan Province and Guizhou Province has been developed rapidly. The beef cattle breeding in pastoral areas are mainly concentrated in Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and Gansu province. Cattle production is important branch of livestock production in Republic of Serbia. Current situation in cattle production is not satisfactory in regard to the production per head and number of heads which has been constantly decreasing in recent years. Based on official statistical data, current situation in cattle production is considered as unfavourable (Bureau of Statistics of Republic of Serbia). Number of cattle in 2011 was 936.000 heads and constantly decreasing over the last 11 years. In this period, number of cattle is reduced by 18%, and number of cows and pregnant heifers by 14%. Data on number and categories of cattle also indicate considerable reduction, so category of cattle at the age of 1 to 2 years has been reduced by 24.5%, and number of calves by 29.2%. Production of cow milk is relatively steady. In 2011 milk production was 1.434.000liters. This can be explained by increased production of milk per cow. Genetic progress in milk traits was achieved by utilization of progeny tested bulls on milk and increased scope of artificial insemination of cows and heifers. Production of meat is in constant decrease which is consequence of reduction of total number of cattle as well as insufficient number of slaughterhouses with EU certificate. Meat production in 2011 was 81.000 t. Our country, although without developed cattle breeding, has been traditional exporter of beef, meat products and fattening young cattle into many countries, even the most developed ones, for instance Italy and Greece. Export of beef was in expansion prior to Italy (1974) and Greece (1980) entering the EEC. For instance, in year 1974, we exported 50.500 t/annually on Italian market, i.e. in 1980 51.310 t and there were 24 registered slaughterhouses with EEC certificate. Today, there are only a few slaughterhouses with EU certificate, and approved export quota of close to 8.000 t of beef we cannot realize. Total production of milk is 1,434.000 l. Cattle production is expected to provide high quality products for export, primarily beef and quality cheeses with defined origin and quality.