ABSTRACT

As a base to launch into discussion about industry and rural development strategies, it is important to first outline the organisational structures and participants in the cattle and beef industry. Like many developing countries, China's agricultural sector is dominated by smallholders that produce predominantly for their own consumption or for local markets. Although small farmers remain the "basic unit" of the Chinese agricultural economy and some bodies from the planning era continue to play a role, "traditional" industry structures are changing. Data on the relative importance of the various components of the industry is not kept for the Chinese cattle and beef industry. Examining the characteristics of industry participants is an essential part of understanding industry organisation in China. Supply-side (push) forces based on the characteristics of industry participants are at least as important as demand-side (pull) factors as determinants of overall industry structures.