Country Report for the Preparation of the First Report on the State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources Report on Domestic Animal Genetic Resources in China June 2003 Beijing CONTENTS Executive Summary Biological diversity is the basis for the existence and development of human society and has aroused the increasing great attention of international society. In June 1992, more than 150 countries including China had jointly signed the "Pact of Biological Diversity". Domestic animal genetic resources are an important component of biological diversity, precious resources formed through long-term evolution, and also the closest and most direct part of relation with human beings. Therefore, in order to realize a sustainable, stable and high-efficient animal production, it is of great significance to meet even higher demand for animal and poultry product varieties and quality by human society, strengthen conservation, and effective, rational and sustainable utilization of animal and poultry genetic resources. The "Report on Domestic Animal Genetic Resources in China" (hereinafter referred to as the "Report") was compiled in accordance with the requirements of the "World Status of Animal Genetic Resource " compiled by the FAO. The Ministry of Agriculture" (MOA) has attached great importance to the compilation of the Report, organized nearly 20 experts from administrative, technical extension, research institutes and universities to participate in the compilation team. In 1999, the first meeting of the compilation staff members had been held in the National Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Service, discussed on the compilation outline and division of labor in the Report compilation, and smoothly fulfilled the tasks to each of the compilers. During the compilation of the Report, we had convened nine compilation committee meetings, and discussed in details about the content of the Report. Since the draft was fulfilled, we have sent it to administrative leaders and experts for reviewing and suggestion solicitation. The Report is consisted of 7 parts: Part I General Situation of Animal Husbandry in China Part II Appraisal of the Diversification Status of Domestic Animals Part III Changes of Demand for Animal Products and Their Influence on Policy, Strategy and Plan of State Animal Genetic Resources Part IV Review on Situation of Ability for National Resource Conservation and Evaluation on Requirement for Capacity Building in the Future Part V Priorities of Conservation and Utilization on Domestic Animal Genetic Resources Part VI Recommendations on Strengthening International Cooperation on the Domain of Animal Diversification Part VII Appendixes The Report is a precious document of great value, has fully demonstrated the important position of China's domestic animal genetic resources in the world, and expounded the great volume of work done by the Chinese Government in the conservation and utilization of domestic animal genetic resources. 1 China is one of the countries that have the richest animal and poultry breed resources in the world. According to current investigation, China has a total number of 576 animal and poultry breeds or lines, of which, native breeds account for about three of forth. These native breeds have formed specific germplasm characters through long-term selection and breeding. Up to now, they are still playing an important role in the development of animal production. Here, the Chinese Government is willing to unfold cooperative research and exchange in the domain of domestic animal genetic resources, and spare common efforts in the conservation and utilization of global domestic animal genetic resources and for a sustainable development of livestock industry. June 2003 Beijing 2 Part I General Situation of Animal Husbandry in China The People's Republic of China is located in eastern Asia, sharing border with Korea in the east, sharing border with Vietnam, Laos and Burma in the south, sharing border with India, Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan in the southwest and west, sharing border with Russia, Kazakhstan in the Northwest and northeast, and sharing border with Mongolia in the north. China is a country that has near neighbours of Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and other countries and regions. China has a total land area of 9.6 million square km, the largest country in Asia. China has a multiple categories of topography, with west part higher than the east. Of which, mountainous area accounts for 33%, plateau accounts for 26%, basin area accounts for 19%, plain area accounts for 12% and hilly area accounts for 10%. The major rivers include the Yangtze River, Yellow River, Pearl River, Heilongjiang River, Hai River and Huai River. These rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean. China has broad territory and occupies temperate and tropic zones. Most part of China is located in the North Temperate Zone and Subtropical zone, belonging to East Asian Monsoon-type climate. Due to complicated topography, great gap in altitude and long distance between hinterland and the ocean, China has complicated and diversified climate types. For example, there is no summer in the northern part of the Heilongjiang Province. On the contrary, there is no winter in the Hainan Island. In the Huaihe River valley, there are distinct four seasons in a year. In the southern part of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, there is spring all year round while in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau snow is covered all year round. In the inland area of Northwest China, the temperature range is very great with hot summer and cold winter. Controlled by dry monsoon during the period from September/October to next year's March/April, the whole country is very cold and dry with temperature difference of 40 degrees centigrade between the north and the south. In winter, the temperature in China is about 5~18 degrees centigrade lower than other countries and regions of the same latitude. A natural mountain defense has formed from the Greater Xing'an Mountains in Northeast China via Yinshan Mountains, Helanshan Mountains to the Bayankela Mountains and Gangdisi Mountains in Southwest China. During the period from April to September each year, influenced by hot and humid airflow from the sea, the area south of the natural defense has hot and raining weather. In July, the temperature difference between Guangzhou and Harbin is only 6 degrees centigrade. China has great difference in rainfall among different regions. In Southeast coastal region the annual rainfall exceeds 1500 mm and it reduces as we go further inland and the annual rainfall was as low as 50 mm in Northwest region. Humid monsoon is concentrated in July and August and it brings large amount of rainfall. China is a populous nation. The total population of China reached 1.266 billion in 2000, ranking the first in the world and accounting for 22% of the world population. The Chinese population is mainly concentrated in Eastern Region and Central Region, and the population density in Western Region is relatively scarce. Before the 1980 s, the annual growth rate of Chinese population was as high as 21.3 ‰ while the annual growth rate of world population was only 19.4 ‰. Since the 1980 s, China has successfully implemented the birth control policy and the annual population growth rate in 2000 has reduced to 11.7 ‰ while the annual growth rate of world population is 15.8 ‰. The formation, category population and distribution of China's domestic animal breeds have close 3 relation with the natural environment. Complicated geographical and climatic conditions have played a profound influence on the formation and distribution of domestic animal diversity. According to climatic and geographic conditions, China is classified into Northwest Part (the pastoral zone) and Southeast Part (agricultural zone) along the natural mountain defense formed by Greater Xing'an Mountains, Yinshan Mountains, Helanshan Mountains, Bayankela Mountains and Gangdisi Mountains. The intermediate transition area is the agricultural-pastoral zone. The distribution of domestic animals can differ according to the characteristics of different geographic and climatic conditions and vegetation type. China can be divided into the following 7 types according to the ecological conditions of the pastoral regions: (1) Forest Grassland Region includes western part of Northeast, the northern part of Hebei Province and eastern part of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. This region has long winter with dry and cold weather and short summer with humid weather. The soil is fertile with abundant grass, high yield and good quality grass output. It is one of the major animal husbandry producing bases in China, suitable for raising horse, cattle and sheep. (2) Arid Grassland Region includes the central and western parts of Inner Mongolia as well as a small part of Ningxia and Gansu Province. This region has slightly higher altitude and is fairly dry comparing with the Forest Grassland Region, with fairly short and scattered grass. The animals in the region include horses, cattle, sheep and goats of Mongolian origin. The region is mainly raising sheep and goats, with local quality breeds including Tan Sheep, Zhongwei goats and Cashmere goats, etc. (3) Mountainous Desert Region is mainly distributed in the Kunlun Mountains, Qilian Mountains, Tianshan Mountains and Altai Mountains in Northwest region, the distribution of animals including horse, cattle, sheep, yaks, donkeys, camels, etc. of Mongolian and Kazak origin. (4) Plain Desert Region is located in the western part of the Helan Mountains and the north part of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, Ningxia, Gansu and parts of Inner Mongolia. The Region has desert, Gobi and desert grassland and is the most arid area with domestic animal including horses, cattle, sheep and camels of Mongolian and Kazak origin. (5) Frigid Meadow Region includes eastern Qinghai, northern and western Sichuan and southwest Gansu and other high and cold areas. Due to the fact that the mountains have a vertical distribution, water and heat conditions varies according to altitude, the main vegetation is meadow type grassland, and the main animal species include horse, sheep and goat.