Cattle pets in China. Chinese livestock farming. Cattle breeding. Images of domestic animals in folk tradition

The fashion for owning exotic pets in China has fueled an increase in trade in rare and even endangered species. Crocodiles, snakes, monkeys, spiders - who else lives in Chinese apartments?

1. Lizard from the agamidae family. Lives naturally in northeastern Somalia, sometimes found in eastern Ethiopia. (Photo by Sean Gallagher):

3. The same chinchilla. Chinchillas were the object of intense hunting for their valuable fur, which led to a significant decrease in their numbers and were included in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. (Photo by Sean Gallagher):

4. Vulture turtle. It can bite so hard that it doesn’t seem like enough. (Photo by Sean Gallagher):

5. Noble green-red parrot. In nature, it lives in the north of Australia (Cape York Peninsula), the South Moluccas, Solomon Islands and New Guinea. (Photo by Sean Gallagher):

6. Rhesus monkey. Indians consider them sacred animals and sometimes leave part of the crops in their fields unharvested for them. (Photo by Sean Gallagher):

7. Raccoon (Photo by Sean Gallagher):

8. A miniature fennec fox can be bought for $2000-3000. This animal got its name from the Arabic word fanak, which means “fox” in one of the colloquial dialects. (Photo by Sean Gallagher):

9. Sugar flying squirrel. You can buy such a cute guy for $600. (Photo by Sean Gallagher):

10. Long-eared New Caledonian gecko. They are able to change color depending on temperature, humidity and their condition. (Photo by Sean Gallagher):

11. A snake is a quiet pet. (Photo by Sean Gallagher):

12. Chalcosoma atlas beetle, one of the largest beetles in the world. The specific Latin name goes back to Atlas, the mighty titan in Greek mythology. (Photo by Sean Gallagher):

13. Blacktip reef shark. Also a pet. (Photo by Sean Gallagher):

China is the country where they invented ice cream and toilet paper, banned Facebook and reincarnation, and kept crickets as pets. More interesting facts are in our selection.

1. Every fifth person in the world is Chinese.

2. There is not a single character in the Chinese language that can be read in more than one syllable.

3. According to Chinese mythology, a dragon named Nian ("Year") comes on New Year's Eve to... eat people.

4. About 20 million trees are cut down every year to produce Chinese chopsticks.

6. “Chinese” fortune cookies were actually created in San Francisco in the early 1900s.

7. Some bricks of the Great Wall of China are held together thanks to... rice flour.

8. Over the past decade, China has built enough housing to accommodate the population of all of Japan and almost all of Russia.

9. At the same time, about 30 million Chinese live in... caves. Renting a one-room apartment in a cave costs about $30.

10. In 2011, China produced 42.5 billion packages of instant noodles.

11. The Chinese consider 8 to be a lucky number because in their language the name of this number sounds almost the same as “prosperity”.

12. Paper money was invented in China.

13. The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing are still the most expensive - they cost $40 billion.

14. Despite its huge territory, China is located within the same time zone.

15. In the west of the country the sun does not rise until 10 am.

16. Half of the world's pig population lives in China.

17. The length of Chinese railways is so great that they can encircle the Earth twice.

18. In China, reincarnation is prohibited by law. To do this, you must obtain government permission.

19. The national sport of the country is table tennis.

20. The Yangtze is the longest and most abundant river not only in China, but throughout Eurasia, and the third in terms of these indicators in the world. Its name is translated as “Long River”, and its length is almost 6300 kilometers.

21. One of the popular entertainments in China is cricket fighting. In many families, these insects are favorite pets.

22. The invention of toilet paper belongs to the Chinese. It first appeared in the 1300s, but in those days only members of the imperial family were allowed to use it.

23. Ice cream was also invented in this Asian country. Previously, it was made from milk, rice and snow.

24. In China, you should be careful with the color white - there it is considered the color of mourning.

25. But red is considered a lucky color in China. It is used to decorate celebrations, national festivals and other joyful events.

26. Popular Chinese lanterns were invented back in 250 BC. For wealthy families, such large specimens were made that it was not possible to lift them alone.

27. At one time in China, long nails were considered a sign of nobility. Both women and men grew their nails, and to protect them from damage they wore special overlays made of silver or gold, which, moreover, visually lengthened the fingers.

28. The One Child Program has led to an imbalance between men and women. Today there are 34 million more boys than girls in the country. In the future, many Chinese men will be forced to live alone or marry foreigners.

29. The bat in China is a symbol of good luck. Don't be surprised when you see her image on fabric, a mug, or anywhere else.

30. The world's largest shopping center is located in China. And it's 99% empty.

Igor Nikolaev

Reading time: 3 minutes

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China's agriculture and livestock production are interdependent and interconnected. The importance of this industry for the Chinese national economy is enormous, despite its auxiliary nature.

It provides draft power for agriculture and transport, as well as consumed products for food. In addition, livestock farming supplies industry and the population with meat, bristles, hides, entrails, wool, eggs, and so on. In turn, agriculture receives organic fertilizers. Livestock products are also a significant export item.

Most of the livestock live in the agricultural regions of the PRC, populated predominantly by the Chinese, but many types of animals are raised in pastoral areas populated by national minorities.

Draft cattle for agricultural areas are raised here, as well as raw meat and livestock for Chinese industry. Apart from the northwest and northeast, there are practically no pastures in China, so stall farming predominates. In the northern Chinese agricultural provinces, the bulk of livestock consists of cows, goats, sheep, as well as horses, mules and donkeys. To the south, in the rice-growing zone, there are quite a few of these animals. The buffalo, which is rare in the northern provinces, is used as a draft animal. Chickens and pigs are everywhere, and geese and ducks predominate in the south of the country.

Cattle (huangniu in Chinese) are more common in northern China, especially in the provinces neighboring Inner Mongolia. These are mainly low-productive and low-growing cattle, but very unpretentious Mongolian breeds.

Cows, like bulls, are used as draft animals. Moreover, until recently in China, cows were not milked at all, as they were considered to weaken them. Currently, dairy farms have been established in the vicinity of large cities. Dairy livestock farming is best developed in Manchuria, since, after the completion of the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway, the best breeds of dairy cattle were brought here from the Soviet Union. In the coastal provinces of the PRC, on the contrary, there are mainly Dutch breeds of cattle. It should be noted that the total number of dairy cattle is small.

In the southwestern provinces (such as Yunnan and Sichuan), the humpback (zeb) breed of cattle has become widespread. Dairy female buffaloes are bred in only one place - in the city of Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. Buffalo milk is thicker in consistency, fattier than cow's milk and tastes sweeter. You can get up to 10 liters of milk or even more per day from a buffalo, so part of it is processed into butter. In general, the cultivation of “shuinyu” (that’s how “buffalo” means “water cow” in Chinese) is due to its close connection with the culture of growing rice using the jellied method.

Buffaloes are very rarely used as transport, as they are reserved for very difficult field arable work in flood sowing conditions. The skins of this type of animal come only from pastoral areas that specialize exclusively in cattle breeding. In agricultural provinces, slaughtering livestock is strictly prohibited. Animal hooves, horns, entrails and the bones themselves are used to produce bone meal.

Small cattle are of great importance to the economy of a number of provinces.

Previously localized in the north, sheep breeding is now actively moving into the southern regions of China. The sheep population is represented mainly by Mongolian (half of the total), as well as Tibetan (more than a third) and Kazakh breeds. Sheep are used very effectively in China. Sheep skins are used for sewing winter clothing, shoes and gloves are made from sheep leather, wool is used for making felt, as well as for making carpets, blankets, felt and other fabrics, felt shoes, and the like. Sheep entrails are widely used in the production of sausages (especially intestinal casings), and are also actively exported. Goats are popular mainly in the mountainous provinces of China.

Horse breeding in the territory of the People's Republic of China has been known for a long time. The majority of the livestock is represented by the low-growing Mongolian breed, which is undemanding to living conditions. Due to the geographical factor, it is most widespread in northern China, especially in the provinces neighboring Inner Mongolia. This breed is best suited for moving through the mountains and is widespread in the provinces of Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan.

These horses are mainly used for transport and in agriculture, although cattle are more often used in the latter sector. The main horse breeding region is the northeast of the country, where horses are actively used for draft power during field work. There are much fewer horses in southern China. Horse breeding as a branch of livestock breeding provides very valuable resources such as horse leather and horse hair. The latter is used to make bows for stringed instruments, as well as paint brushes, all kinds of sieves and brushes. For the production of bows, white horsetail hair is especially valued and is mainly exported.

Donkeys in China are divided not by their breeds, but by their size, and therefore come in three types: small, medium and large. They are mainly used in individual farming due to their unpretentiousness. This type of livestock is not suitable for a climate with high humidity, so the bulk of the livestock is localized in the north.

A hybrid of a mare with a donkey (mules) and a hybrid obtained from a donkey with a stallion (hinnies) are fast, hardy, strong and efficient animals. Most of the livestock is located in Northern China. These animals are used mainly for transporting goods along mountain trails where modern equipment does not pass. Their numbers are relatively small, since these hybrids themselves are not capable of reproduction.

The most important and leading livestock industry in China is pig farming. Pork is the most popular and beloved type of meat in China.

In addition, pig farming provides organic fertilizers, leather for making a wide range of products (from shoes and jackets to drums and suitcases), as well as bristles and intestinal casings for making sausages. Also, Chinese pork is an important part of China's exports. Basically, the structure of pork export products consists of the meat itself, as well as pork hams, intestinal casings and spinal bristles. Local breeds developed in China are ready for fertilization from the age of six months.

There are two Chinese breeds of pigs: South China and North China. The first is characterized by a short, massive carcass and black and white color, while the second is mainly black in color, with an elongated body, a saggy belly and a long snout. In terms of the total number of pigs, as well as in the production of bristles, China confidently holds first place in the world.

Poultry farming is a long-established and widespread livestock industry in China. Needless to say, this is one of the most famous industries in the world and the most important for China.

More than 80 percent of the total domesticated poultry population in China are chickens. More than 300 million units of this bird are raised every year. Chicken farming is most developed in provinces such as Hebei, Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, Sichuan, Guangdong and Jiangxi. The best Chinese breeds are Lanshan (Jiangsu province), Shougan (Shandong province), Jiujinghuang (Shandong and Hebei provinces) and Sushan (Zhejiang province). Popular imported breeds include the Leghorn, Plymouth Rock and Rhode Island.

Mountain people. That's what you can call the Chinese. 1/5 of the Celestial Empire is located at an altitude of more than 5,000 meters. The highest point in the world is also located in China. Being the peak of the Himalayas, Everest reaches 8,848 meters above sea level.

The remaining 4/5 of Chinese territories are located at the 500-meter mark. This does not mean that there are no lowlands and plains in China. However, they are all elevated above sea level. This affects the nature of the country and its inhabitants.

Adjusting animals of China and under the climate. Since the area of ​​the Celestial Empire is the 3rd largest after Russia and Canada, there are subtropics, temperate and sharply continental zones here. This adds variety to the hills. Let's get acquainted with those who inhabit the landscapes of the Middle Kingdom.

Przewalski's horse

Enriches Chinese wildlife thanks to the animal protection program. Those who have read Mine Reed's books, for example, "The Headless Horseman", will remember. By the 21st century the species became extinct.

The Przewalski's horse is the only wild horse in the world. The animal is muscular and large, reaching 350 kilograms. You can meet the Red Book animal in the north-west of China.

Przewalski's horses - rare animals of China who have developed a collective method of protecting their offspring. The foals are enclosed in a circle of females. This is how Przewalski's horses, for example, sleep.

When approaching a live ring, predators cannot overcome it without waking up the victims. In addition, they become muzzles inside the ring. Instinct kicks in, which is why riding school students are not allowed to approach their horses from behind.

Horses kick if someone approaches from behind, even in their sleep. It's no secret that horses sleep standing up. This is possible due to the special structure of the joints.

Przewalski's horse

Kiang

Color indicates rare species. However, it would be correct to divide the page into 2 sectors - yellow and white. The lack of color in the book indicates little-studied animals.

The heights to which orongs climb do not allow for full observation of them. What is needed here is not zoologists, but climbers. It is only known that ungulates nibble grass in the morning and evening.

At these times of day the wind subsides. During the day, its gusts on mountain plateaus are strong. Orongs dig holes in the ground with their hooves and lie down inside. This is how animals hide from the piercing wind.

The photo shows the animal Orongo

Panda

This animal is a symbol of China, declared a national treasure. The animal from the bear family lives only in 3 provinces of the PRC. These are Tibet, Gansu and Sichuan.

In summer, animals are searched for at heights close to the habitats of the orongs and kiangs. Pandas climb into the mountains in search of coolness. In winter, black and white bears descend to heights of 700-800 meters above sea level.

Their numbers limit their need for bamboo. Large bears reach 1.5 meters in length and 150 kilograms in weight. Entire forests are needed to feed ourselves. Every day, bears eat 15-20% of their own weight. Fortunately, bamboo recovers quickly. Daily growth is 2-3 meters.

Pandas eat bamboo for about 12 hours a day. The rest of the time, bears mostly sleep. So, the lifestyle of pandas resembles leisure. This led the symbol of the Celestial Empire to degradation. Having discovered the remains of a prehistoric ancestor of the panda, scientists found that the brain volume animal of ancient China was 30% more.

Known to be pretty and calm. However, sometimes bears calmly do cruel things. So, pandas tend to give birth to twins. However, the mother always abandons one child.

They choose the stronger and more viable. Hundreds of abandoned baby bears are dying in the forests of China. Zoologists are ironic that pandas could tell where their children were abandoned. In this case, they could end up in zoos.

Animal panda - symbol of China

White Tiger

Sacred animal in China. According to beliefs, he protects the western borders of the country and, in general, the world. Feng Shui associates the albino predator with metal and military prowess. Unlike dragons and firebirds, the white tiger is real.

Albinos are associated with the West for a reason. The protected side of the world in the mythology of the Celestial Empire is the land of the dead. Anyone who has been to the PRC or read about it knows that white in China symbolizes mourning. Even Asian women get married not in light, but in black and red dresses.

In the nature of China, white tigers are rare. Light color interferes with hunting. Among the greenery, trees and earth, predators become noticeable to game. But albinos are valued by circuses and zoos. This is where most white tigers live.

Let's deal with names. Photos of Chinese animals is signed mainly as "". This is true. Albinos belong to the Bengal species; in addition to China, they live in India and Burma.

In these countries, cases of predator attacks on people have been recorded. This is not about simple defense, but an attack with the aim of profiting from meat. In this regard, the Bengal species is more bloodthirsty, for example. Russian tigers do not attack people and avoid them in every possible way.

White Tiger

Jeyran

Lives in northwest China. A medium-sized gazelle is brownish-sandy with a white belly and a black tail. Only males have horns, they are curved and reach 30 centimeters. Distinguished, like other gazelles, by their grace, they are distinguished by especially thin legs and pointed hooves.

This structure of the limbs helps to move deftly through clay and rocky terrain. However, goitered gazelles are not adapted to snow. My legs are falling through. Therefore, Chinese gazelles live in warm areas.

Goitered gazelles are shy. At the slightest rustle, gazelles take flight. They run at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour. No, of course. He rushes at a speed of 130 kilometers per hour. But the goitered gazelle’s indicator is also worthy. Horses, for example, run at a speed of no more than 25 kilometers per hour.

In the photo goitered gazelle

Asian ibis

The list of attractions of the animal world of China is completed by an endangered bird, but striking in its beauty and grace. There are only 700 left in nature. The same number are kept in zoos. Birds have pinkish feathers, like feathers. The cheeks and the end of the beak are red. The beak, by the way, is exceptionally long and curved down.

The Asian ibis is large. 80 centimeters is the standard height of a bird. It lives in the swampy areas of China. It is no secret that desertification processes are active in the Celestial Empire.

Ibises have nowhere to nest and hunt small fish. In terms of reproduction, birds have a chance to survive. There are 4-5 eggs in a clutch. Parents of Asian ibises are caring and attentive. The only thing against the population is the changing climate and terrain.

Pictured is an Asian ibis

According to the Chinese tradition, “large pets” were accepted more as food than as friends. Only the richest people allowed themselves to have a pet as a form of entertainment. A similar situation arose during the difficult period after the creation of the PRC, at that time the population was not at all interested in feeding another “family member.” Only recently in China are more people allowing themselves to have a dog or a cat.

In China, cats are very popular because they are easier and cheaper to keep, and there are no restrictions on keeping them - there is no need to register them, and accordingly you can have as many individuals as you want. Regarding dog breeding in cities, the policy principle “one family, one dog” is used. In turn, in Beijing, for example, it is not allowed to have dogs that exceed 35 centimeters at the withers; the fine for this violation is $650, which is a lot here. At the same time, obtaining a license for a dog is not cheap for an ordinary local resident - $130. So, very often dogs are kept illegally, and very small ones, so that there is less worry and trouble.

Somewhat more often you can see a resident of the Celestial Empire walking a bird behind him. Popular songbirds in China include the red finch, Mongolian lark, shama thrush and plover. The cost of a quality bird can reach up to $2,000. Breeding songbirds is something of a hobby for the Chinese. So, owners like to gather in the park and organize competitions among their singing pets. Victory goes to the bird that managed to sing the largest number of different melodies within the allotted time.

In addition, it was the Chinese who first bred the world-famous goldfish back 1000 BC, and they also came up with the idea of ​​keeping it as a pet. According to tradition, the fish plays a serious role in the arrangement of housing according to Feng Shui, so it can be found not only in people’s homes, but also in all sorts of establishments, such as restaurants, shops and other things. China presents a wide variety of private shops that sell different types of fish - from tiny and cheap to large and valuable. Therefore, almost anyone can afford a pet of this level.

Another feature of China is crickets, or rather their keeping as pets. Here the cricket is associated with summer, courage, and also rebirth. The chirping cricket is quite common among pets. Such pets were kept in spacious boxes and cages, and according to legend they were a symbol of long life, happiness and luck.

In China, you can often see old people sitting quietly on a park bench, serenely listening to the “songs” of crickets emanating from reed boxes. These are breeders of song crickets. They believe that their pets give them long life and peace. And a little further you can see a group of men, grouped together, intensely watching something on the ground. They shout loudly and gesticulate actively. It happens that everything ends hand-to-hand. This is a club for fans of fighting crickets. Despite the fact that gambling is illegal in China, bets are made here little by little and in small amounts, usually no more than 50 yuan. Small, but profit from a pet.