Sinonews Client Beijing, May 29th (Xie Yiguan) The positive list of livestock and poultry breeding is here! On May 29, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs announced the "National Catalog of Animal Genetic Resources" (hereinafter referred to as the "Catalogue"), which for the first time identified 33 species of domesticated livestock and poultry. Dogs and frogs were not included in the "Catalogue".
Dog ≠ domestic animals? Does not include in the "catalogue", does it mean that the dog can no longer be kept?
Data picture: On February 22, 2020, the dogs participating in the Russian dog sled race.
33 species of domestic animals and poultry were identified for the first time
"Catalogue" for the first time identified 33 domestic animal and poultry species, including its local breeds, cultivated varieties, introduced varieties and supporting lines. The "Catalogue" belongs to the positive list of livestock and poultry farming. Those listed in the "Catalogue" shall be managed in accordance with the "Livestock Law of the People's Republic of China".
"Catalogue" shows that there are 17 kinds of traditional livestock and poultry, namely pigs, ordinary cattle, zebu, buffalo, yak, large-scale cattle, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, camels, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, quails ; 16 species of special livestock, including deer, red deer, reindeer, alpaca, turkey, guinea fowl, pheasant, partridge, muscovy duck, mallard, ostrich, emu, mink (non-edible), silver Fox (non-edible), Arctic fox (non-edible), raccoon dog (non-edible).
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs pointed out that these livestock and poultry are domestic animals that have been domesticated and selected for a long time. They have a certain group size and are mainly used for agricultural production. The population can be propagated under artificial breeding conditions to provide meat, Egg, milk, fur, fiber and other products, or to meet the needs of military use, sports, etc.
Dogs are not included in the positive list of livestock and poultry farming, does not mean that they cannot be kept
Before the "Catalogue" solicited opinions, whether dogs were included in the "Catalogue" had caused widespread concern, and the topic of "Dogs intend to fast for companion animals" became a hot search. At that time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs stated that dogs had been “specialized” from traditional domestic animals to companion animals. They were generally not used as livestock and poultry in the world, and China should not be included in livestock and poultry management.
Some netizens said, "Support! Dogs are human soul mates! Resolutely resist eating!"
However, some netizens believe that "the ban should be poisoning and killing pet dogs, subsidizing the feeding of meat-eating dogs, not one size fits all." "Dogs are companions, and chickens, pigs, horses, cows, sheep, etc. also accompany thousands of humans. It has been eaten by humans for thousands of years? Are they disloyal? "
Data map: May 5, 2019, Puppy exhibition held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
In the end, why was the dog not included in the "Catalogue"? The person in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs explained that during the period when the Catalogue was publicly solicited for comment, most of the opinions on whether or not dogs are included in the Catalogue were in favor of dogs not being included in the Catalogue.
The person in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said that dogs have a long history of domestication. In the past, they were mainly used in nursing homes and hunting and grazing; now the use of dogs is more diverse. The relationship is closer. There are no dogs in livestock and poultry counted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, and internationally, it is generally not managed according to livestock and poultry. For example, the livestock and poultry listed in the Korean "Livestock Law" do not include dogs. With the progress of the times, people's civilization ideas and eating habits are constantly changing, and some traditional customs about dogs will also change.
"Although the dog is not included in the" Catalogue ", it is not a wild animal, and it does not mean that it cannot be kept." The person in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs made it clear that for the management of dogs, relevant departments and localities already have some experience and practices, Regulations such as restriction of support, registration, and compulsory immunization have been adopted. In the future, all localities can further improve relevant systems and achieve standardized management on the basis of listening to the opinions of all parties based on local reality.
Frogs do not belong to domestic animals and poultry, and are managed as aquatic animals
The reporter noticed that black frogs, spiny-breasted frogs, forest frogs, tiger frogs and other frogs were also not included in the "Catalogue".
In this regard, the person in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs explained that frogs are amphibians and do not belong to the category of livestock and poultry, and cannot be included in the Catalogue.
The person in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs pointed out that in the process of soliciting opinions in the Catalogue, there were cross-management problems in some frogs in various regions, and it was required to clarify the management division of frogs. To this end, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the State Forestry and Grassland Bureau have organized expert research and demonstrations and jointly issued the "Notice on Further Regulating the Protection and Management of Frogs", which clarifies the black spotted frog, spiny breast frog, spiny-bellied frog, Chinese forest frog Northeast forest frogs) and Heilongjiang forest frogs are managed by aquatic animals according to the agricultural and rural (fishery) departments.
According to reports, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the State Forestry and Grassland Bureau will adjust the relevant lists in accordance with the above divisions in time, and guide the local competent authorities to promote the adjustment of the local key protected wildlife lists. Regarding the tiger frog, the two departments will make it clear when the national key protected wildlife list is adjusted based on the opinions of experts.
Data picture: February 14, Peacock "Couple Photo" at Chongqing Lehe Ledu Wildlife Park. Photo by Wang Chengjie
Why are some domesticated wild animals not included in the "Catalogue"?
In the process of soliciting opinions in the "Catalogue", some localities and farmers suggested to include some wild animals under cultivation, but in the end they did not enter the positive list of livestock and poultry farming.
In response, the person in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs explained that the livestock and poultry listed in the "Catalogue" have clear legal boundaries and strict scientific boundaries. Livestock and poultry are domesticated from wild animals. Compared with wild animals, their genetic structure and biological characteristics usually have essential changes in the following aspects: one is to overcome wildness, suitable for group feeding; the other is to overcome seasonality The estrous habit can be reproduced all year round; the third is the stable genetic performance, with a certain population size, which can be propagated independently without relying on the wild population; the fourth is that there are mature varieties, and the production performance and economic performance are significantly improved.
"There are more than 5,400 mammals in nature and more than 9,800 avians, most of which are wild animals." The person in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said that because these are wild animals, some of them have not been raised artificially for long. Provenances need to be collected from the wild, it is difficult to distinguish from wild populations, some public health risks are unclear, some are not within the scope of mammals and birds, and they do not meet the standards and conditions of livestock and poultry, and should not be included in the "Catalogue". Continue to manage in accordance with the Wildlife Protection Law and relevant regulations.