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USGC hosts first Chinese dairy team to the U.S.
The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is for the first time exposing a team of Chinese dairy industry representatives to the workings of modern U.S. dairy production.
During the USGC-hosted visit, the 18-member Chinese team participates in workshops and visit numerous dairy farms in California and Wisconsin, Aug. 3 to 13. USGC has organized the visit as part of a new initiative to help Chinese dairy producers improve the nutrition and feed resources of their herds, as well as reduce their incidence of metabolic diseases resulting from poor feeding management.
"Technically, dairy science and herd health are poorly developed disciplines in China that constrain production well below the current genetic potential of the Chinese dairy herd," said Dr. Todd Meyer, the Council's senior director in Beijing. "Many of the major processors and producers are aware of the need to modernize."
China's dairy sector has been the fastest growing major sector in agriculture in recent years. Between 2000 to 2003, the total number of dairy animals, including young stock, grew by 3.7 million head to 8.5 million, an increase of 75 percent.
USGC's work to help build a vital dairy industry in China will impact feed grain supply and demand in several ways, Meyer points out.
"In a more modernized industry, cattle will directly consume feed grains--mainly corn--and compete directly with other livestock segments for local and imported corn supplies," Meyer said. "Also, the forage needs for high producing dairy cattle will stimulate the demand for corn grown specifically for silage, and alfalfa, and other high quality cattle forages. These forces, in combination, will have a major impact on China's corn supply and demand to the world."
In working toward this effort, USGC has already established key contacts and partners inside China's dairy processing sector--many of whom will be participating in the USGC-hosted visit.
The team began their visit in California by attending workshops on herd health and management at the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center. This was followed by several days of visits to dairy farms in the Fresno area, including in Salinas, Madera and Hanford.
Between Aug. 8 and 13, the team participated in a variety of activities in Wisconsin, including taking a number of courses at the University of Wisconsin on dairy cattle nutrition, milk quality, milk machine maintenance and technology and dairy cattle reproduction. The team also attended the Wisconsin State Fair and visit dairy farms and feedlots in Madison and surrounding areas.
Date: 8/23/04
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