The Evolving Beef Industry and Its Sustainability in Western China

The beef industry in China has started to develop since the 1980s. Since then, its production system has been evolving significantly from subsistence production towards business operation in farmer households. As demands continue to grow, China will become the largest beef consumption country in the world by the year of 2025. The beef production in China’s western agriculture regions is gaining significant role in the beef industry of China. Utilization of corn stover and other agriculture aftermath is seen as the competitive advantage of development of the beef industry. Over the last 30 years the beef production efficiency has been improved remarkably. But, the beef industry faces many challenges along with the evolving beef production system. As a result, both beef population and production are declining steadily in the last 5 years. In order to establish a sustained beef industry in western China, there is need to discuss and study the challenges and issues, as well as prepare the technologies and regulations for the evolving beef industry to ensure its sustainability. Efficiency of production system, technologies available for animal health, straw and agriculture aftermath utilization, are the key aspects for the sustained beef industry in western China. Establishment of the effective breeding program suited to production system in Western China is a cornerstone of a sustained beef industry. Effective animal health and vaccination programs need to be established and implemented to ensure the food safety and quality. Finally, optimizations of beef production systems need to ensure the competitiveness of the beef industry and its sustainability.