9 November 2007

5 minute read

Asia

the International Livestock and Dairy Expo - was organised by the N.C.C. Exhibition Organizer Company Ltd of Bangkok and was held in the centre of Beijing at the Beijing International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

In addition to the trade fair, delegates could attend seminars covering a wide range of topics. N.C.C.also organises livestock trade fairs in Vietnam and India, with the October 2007 event being the first one N.C.C. has promoted in China. The Chinese market is a difficult one to get established in, and N.C.C. goes to great pains to emphasise that its speciality is linking overseas companies with well established Chinese businesses.

The opening ceremony was a very colourful one, as is usual in Asia, commencing with a musical introduction provided by a local military band. Following the cutting of a large red ribbon, Mr Kamoinai Chaixanien, Executive Director of N..C.C. welcomed exhibitors and delegates to ILDEX China and said" China has a bright economic outlook and now has become the key driver for global economic growth. N.C.C. was supported by the Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine and the organiser's deputy director Mr Ou Zhongsheng made a short address:" Chinese companies have exhibited at ILDEX Vietnam and ILDEX India and are been keen to exhibit at ILDEX China. This first venture has attracted just under 100 exhibitors from France, India, Thailand, United Kingdom, USA, Vietnam and other countries, in addition to many from China". Mr Zhongsheng concluded by saying that the organisers would do their best to make ILDEX China grow into a large and well recognised international exhibition .

Several British exhibitors were flying the flag for the UK.dairy industry. Geraldine Middleton of Middleton Livestock Services is very keen to have the Chinese import quality British dairy stock, namely Lakemead Friesians and Barn Owl Jerseys. "The Chinese have imported lots of Holsteins but we feel there is growing need for breeds that are easy to manage and are noted for their longevity - like the Friesian and Jersey breeds." Importing live animals is an arduous business due to government protocols and we are looking at semen as a cheaper alternative. The semen is used on indigenous females and herds can gradually grade up, over time".

Andrew Taylor was representing the British Livestock Genetics Consortium at the show, whilst the British Dairy Consortium was represented by Kevin Brewer and John Mogg. Kevin was representing Ecosyl products, whose bacterial inoculants are already being exported to 20 different countries., whilst John runs his own dairy design consultancy business. Food tastes are changing China and imported specialty foods are slowly gaining a niche there. Emma Tu represents the Cheese Company, part of Milk Link, in China and she said that there is a growing interest in English cheeses in China .

French company Olmix currently just sell their hygroscopic hygiene product Mistral in China, but hope to have their M Tox + mycotoxin inhibitor approved for sale in early 2008. Dr Dong is a veterinary consultant working with Olmix and he provided a fascinating insight into the Chinese dairy industry. Traditionally the Chinese have not drunk much milk but things are changing, with children being given free milk in school, as happened in the UK after WW II. Currently consumption is only 25litres per person per year, but even so China is still the world's 3rd largest dairy nation. Milk consumption is about 25% of the world average, but increasing rapidly. Most of the cows are located in the cooler northern region, in Heilongjiang, Shangdong and Xinjiang provinces.Winter can be severe and last 4months in these northern parts of China. Holsteins predominate, with many lines being imported from New Zealand, USA and Canada. AI is widely used. Many farmers just have 4or 5 cows, with 29% of herds having 20 cows or more. The average lactation is 4,500 litres, with better herds averaging 6,500 litres. On a traditional dairy farm a farmer can milk up to 15 cows, with more modern set ups this rises to 20 -25. Herring bone parlours are quite popular and many of the bigger farms feed maize silage. Twice a day milking is generally the norm, although some big farms milk three times. Dr Dong visits 6 farms a day on average, with mastitis and laminitis being the two most common problems he has to contend with. China operates a free market system with regard to the price farmers receive for their milk - currently 15p/ litre. Even so 40% of producers are losing money, mainly due to high feed prices. Milk is processed through one of 1,600 dairies, or milk companies as they are known in China.

Beijing Kingpeng Global Husbandry Technology Co Ltd had a large stand at ILDEX . The company makes a huge range of dairy equipment, supplying anything from traditional bucket milking machines to complete parlours equipped with the latest technology.

A large number of bio tech and pharmaceutical companies had stands at the fair . Many were promoting their ranges of synthetic amino acids plus vitamin and trace mineral supplements. Qingdao Ease Pharmachem Co Ltd, for example, specializes in manufacturing animal health products, antibiotics and feed additives." Quality control is very important in our business, along with product testing" commented export manager Liu Zhenhua. "Our turnover amounts to $US 20 million annually, with our products being widely distributed throughout China plus we export to more than 10 different countries."

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