Publication Date
1997
Description
This paper covers the development of dairy production systems as part of the UNDP funded Agro-grasslands Systems Development Project in Guizhou Province, China. The basic philosophy for the project was for local adaptation of New Zealand technology for developing dairy production systems based on pastures. The dairy production systems were established and the outputs of the project successfully achieved. Net incomes of smallholder farmers increased from a baseline of RMB $140 to RMB $1740 per annum over a three year period. Based on the experienced gained in setting up these systems local researchers, administrators, extension personnel and smallholders were able to identify a number of problems and opportunities for the further development of milk production from pastures in Guizhou Province. The main feature was, in general, a lack of planning of suitable stock policies to make effective use of the improved pastures, which lead to either underfeeding of animals and/or the use of high cost concentrates. The reasons for this underfeeding and possible solutions are identified and discussed in the paper. Dairy development at one site (Dushan) offered a successful model for production as at this site a lower cost system based on 24 hour grazing of pasture with less total supplement fed/ha and the use of fodder crops and silage rather than concentrates without any reduction in per cow production was established.
Citation
Matthews, P.N P.; Hodgson, J; Chu, A.C P.; Jiang, W L.; and Luo, C B., "Dairy Production from Pasture in Southern China" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 66.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session29/66
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Dairy Production from Pasture in Southern China
This paper covers the development of dairy production systems as part of the UNDP funded Agro-grasslands Systems Development Project in Guizhou Province, China. The basic philosophy for the project was for local adaptation of New Zealand technology for developing dairy production systems based on pastures. The dairy production systems were established and the outputs of the project successfully achieved. Net incomes of smallholder farmers increased from a baseline of RMB $140 to RMB $1740 per annum over a three year period. Based on the experienced gained in setting up these systems local researchers, administrators, extension personnel and smallholders were able to identify a number of problems and opportunities for the further development of milk production from pastures in Guizhou Province. The main feature was, in general, a lack of planning of suitable stock policies to make effective use of the improved pastures, which lead to either underfeeding of animals and/or the use of high cost concentrates. The reasons for this underfeeding and possible solutions are identified and discussed in the paper. Dairy development at one site (Dushan) offered a successful model for production as at this site a lower cost system based on 24 hour grazing of pasture with less total supplement fed/ha and the use of fodder crops and silage rather than concentrates without any reduction in per cow production was established.
