Dairy Production in Diverse Regions | China

Abstract

China is the third largest producer of milk in the world. Recent increases in milk production have been promoted by both an increase in individuals’ incomes and their high demand for fresh milk. The Chinese Holstein is one of the main breeds of dairy cattle in China. Other dairy breeds such as Holstein, Friesian, and Jersey can also be found in Chinese dairy herds. Like many others, the crossbreed cows improved by Holstein are also used for milk production. Management of dairy cattle mainly occurs in state-owned farms, hotel farms, or small private farms. Each form has its own problems and advantages. Like the increase in milk production, the consumption of dairy products has increased significantly in the past 30 years. This has resulted from the fast development of dairy processors, both in number and their capacity. Chinese people prefer liquid milks to powdered milks. Although a large amount of milk is produced in China, each year a large amount of foreign dairy products is imported by Chinese dairy processors.