Wu Laping, School of economics and management, China Agricultural University
Rabbit industry is an important part of China's animal husbandry, and it is a very representative industry in China's grain saving animal husbandry. With the increasing scarcity of arable land and water resources in China, the challenge of grain production is increasing, while the increase of population, the increase of income and the transformation of consumption structure are driving the demand of grain to a greater extent. In order to alleviate this contradiction, the government proposed to vigorously support the development of grain saving animal husbandry, and formulated the national grain saving animal husbandry development plan (2011-2020) It has created a good development environment for the development of rabbit industry in China.
First, there is great market demand potential and sufficient industrial development momentum.
With the improvement of the income of urban and rural residents and the strengthening of consumers' health awareness, the demand for healthy and high-quality rabbit meat is increasing, and the market demand potential is huge. At present, the per capita rabbit meat in China is only 0.55 kg, which is far lower than the level of 3-5 kg in France, Italy and Spain. At the same time, the consumption of rabbit meat in China is relatively concentrated in Sichuan, Chongqing and Guangdong. According to the survey, Sichuan Province alone consumes more than half of the rabbit meat production in China. Guangdong and Chongqing consume about 11.44% and 9.66% respectively. Rabbit meat consumption in most other areas is very low. With the continuous recognition of the nutritional value of rabbit meat by consumers, the consumption of rabbit meat will continue to improve.
The second is to save grain and land, which is in line with the new normal of economic development.
Rabbit is a herbivore, mainly with grass, hay and wild vegetables as feed sources, feed resources are extensive. Rabbit breeding can also make full use of unconventional feed such as crop by-products and reduce the feed consumption. At the same time, rabbit breeding can not only use slope land, hilly land, but also use courtyard and other idle land, so the demand for cultivated land is small. Therefore, rabbit breeding "does not compete with people for food, does not compete with food for land", and saving food and land has become one of the important characteristics of rabbit breeding, which can better guarantee food security in China. In addition, because rabbits mainly eat forage, have small body, long intestines, high feed digestibility, less excreta and easy recycling, compared with pigs, chickens and other animals, environmental pollution is low, which is conducive to sustainable development.
Third, the advantage of variety resources is obvious, and the support of science and technology is sufficient.
Due to the long history of rabbit breeding in China, there are a number of rich local resources, such as Fujian Yellow Rabbit, black rabbit and Sichuan white rabbit. At the same time, some rabbit breeding enterprises and relevant scientific research institutions in China have also continuously introduced and cultivated a number of rabbit breeding. At present, there are 6 local varieties, 14 imported varieties and 12 cultivated varieties (supporting lines) of rabbit resources certified by the state. In addition, there are 10 new lines approved before 2006, and a total of 42 new varieties (lines). At the same time, since 2009, the state has listed rabbits in the modern agricultural industrial technology system for support, which has a better guarantee in rabbit breeding and other scientific and technological aspects.
Fourth, policy support has been strengthened and the industrial environment has been gradually improved.
In recent years, rabbit breeding has been placed in an important position. In the 12th Five Year Plan for the development of national animal husbandry, it is proposed that we should base on the advantages of local resources, adhere to the market orientation, develop characteristic breeding according to local conditions, and focus on the development of characteristic breeding such as rabbit, horse and donkey. At the same time, the national grain saving animal husbandry development plan (2011-2020) was formulated in 2011, which further defined the development direction of rabbit industry. It is suggested that the output of rabbit should be increased continuously, the stock of basic stock should be recovered and developed gradually, and the level of standardized scale breeding should be further improved. At the same time, since 2011, the government has officially listed rabbits in the modern agricultural industrial technology system, and implemented long-term support to promote the rapid development of rabbit industry. During the 12th Five Year Plan period, with the joint efforts of all relevant government departments, associations, industrial systems and business entities in all sectors of the industry, the industrial environment has been improved day by day.