context: This adoption is not a surprise. It follows a 30 September 2018 call for comment, and months of direct statements from the feed industry that soy ratios would be cut. While imported protein sources were discussed, US soybeans were not directly named as a factor in coverage of the event.
China Feed Industry Association (CFIA) held an event to release two new group standards for 'piglet, feeder and fattening formulated feeds' and 'layer and broiler formulated feeds' on 26 October 2018. Wang Linwen 王黎文 CFIA quality and certification division director presented the new standards, noting key factors including
- a need to reduce demand for feed ingredients, particularly protein feed inputs where import dependence is close to 80 percent
- an interest in cutting the protein ratio to reduce metabolic burden on farmed animals and decrease the environmental impact of livestock waste
- advances in technology and research enabling lower crude protein and phosphorus in compound feed through addition of synthetic amino acids and enzymes
A group of 29 leading feed and livestock enterprises have committed to adopt the standards, including New Hope Liuhe, Dabeinong and Guangdong Wens Group. The event included livestock industry association leaders, academic experts from leading agricultural research universities and institutes, representatives from leading livestock companies, and government officials including Yang Zhenhai 杨振海 National Animal Husbandry Station director and Zhang Haitao 张海涛 Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) administrative office director.