Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China: Dogs have been “specialized” as companion animals and should not be included in livestock management
China News Agency, Beijing, April 9 (Reporter Chen Su) The reporter learned from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China on the 9th that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has recently formulated the "National Catalog of Animal Genetic Resources (Draft for Comments)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Catalogue") To solicit opinions from the public on the catalog of livestock and poultry, in the explanation for the Catalog, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs specifically mentioned that dogs have been “specialized” as companion animals and should not be included in the management of livestock and poultry.
Since the “Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People ’s Congress on the Comprehensive Prohibition of Illegal Wildlife Trade, the Elimination of the Abuse of Wild Animal Eating and the Safeguarding of People ’s Health and Safety” in February this year, there has been extensive social discussion about which animals can be eaten The establishment of the "Catalogue" means that this issue will have an official conclusion.
"Catalogue" includes a total of 31 species of traditional livestock and special livestock, of which 18 species of traditional livestock and poultry: pigs, ordinary cattle, zebu, buffalo, yak, large cattle, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, camels, rabbits , Chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigeons, quails; 13 species of special livestock: sika deer, red deer, reindeer, alpaca, guinea fowl, pheasant, partridge, mallard, ostrich, mink, silver fox, Blue fox and raccoon dog.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs stated that in the process of formulating the "Catalog", there are four main principles: First, adhere to science, and the livestock and poultry listed in the "Catalog" must undergo long-term artificial breeding and domestication, and have stable artificial selection of economic traits; Safety, giving priority to ensuring food safety, public health safety, and ecological safety; third, respecting ethnic customs, considering the needs of multi-ethnic production and life, and traditional culture; and fourth, connecting with international standards, referring to international common practices and international practices, etc. Civilization progress and public concern and preference for animal protection, dogs have been "specialized" from traditional domestic animals to companion animals, generally not used as livestock and poultry in the world, and China should not be included in livestock management.
Regarding the relationship between livestock and poultry and terrestrial wildlife in the "Catalogue", the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs stated that the livestock and poultry listed in the "Catalogue" shall be governed by the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Administration under the Animal Husbandry Law; The population, as well as terrestrial wildlife outside the Catalogue, shall be governed by the Forestry and Grassland Department under the Wildlife Protection Law. (Finish)