Zaosheng Cattle

Zaosheng Cattle

Zaosheng Cattle is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Zaosheng Cattle is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Zaosheng Cattle is one of China’s superior cattle breeds. It is characterized by rapid growth, strong adaptability, good disease resistance, and a shiny black-red coat that gives it a spirited and majestic appearance. When standing, it holds its head high; when lying down, its hooves are not visible. The breed produces a high yield of quality meat and is exported overseas.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External sensory features — Qingyang Zaosheng Cattle have a tall and large body frame, with pure coats primarily in red or purplish-red hues. Their horns are small and come in shapes referred to as “radish horns,” “bell horns,” or “knobby horns.” When lying down, their hooves are not visible. Bulls have large heads, thick and short necks, well-developed dewlaps, and a majestic appearance, while cows have long and delicate heads, slender and thin necks. Adult cows stand approximately 121.86±4.04 cm tall and measure 137.17±5.43 cm in length, while bulls stand about 142±3.31 cm tall and measure 163.5±4.5 cm in length. Zaosheng Cattle are slightly smaller than Qinchuan Cattle, and when lying down, their limbs are tightly tucked beneath their chest and abdomen — a trait commonly referred to as “four hooves not showing.” Their coats are uniformly colored, predominantly in purplish-red and red shades, with the purplish-red variant being significantly more common than in Qinchuan Cattle. Furthermore, castrated Zaosheng Cattle are renowned both within and outside the province for their large size, strength, and abundant meat, earning high praise from many merchants. 2. Internal quality indicators — Qingyang Zaosheng Beef is tender, juicy, and delicious, with a high meat yield. The net meat rate is 55.3%. The muscle marble pattern is moderate, with a fat-to-meat ratio of 1:1.6, a fat content of 35.2%, and a protein content of 13.8%. 3. Safety requirements and product quality control — These are based on the “Zaosheng Cattle Quality Control Measures” and the “Zaosheng Cattle Production Technical Operation Procedures.” The applicable laws include the newly amended “Animal Epidemic Prevention Law of the People’s Republic of China” implemented on January 1, 2008, in accordance with the Ministry of Agriculture’s “Animal Quarantine Management Measures,” the “Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China,” and the Ministry of Agriculture’s “Livestock and Poultry Breeding Identification and Record Management Measures.” 4. Product quality control measures — 4.1 Cattle slaughter quarantine must follow NY467–2001 “Hygienic Quarantine Standards for Livestock and Poultry Slaughter,” ensuring proper pre-slaughter and post-slaughter inspections and quarantine checks. 4.2 The hygiene indicators of cattle products must comply with GB2723 “Hygiene Standards for Fresh Beef, Fresh Mutton, and Fresh Rabbit Meat” and the national standard “Hygiene Indicators for Frozen Beef.” 4.3 Product production and sales must adhere to the “Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Law,” “Animal Epidemic Prevention Law,” and other relevant laws and regulations.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Zaosheng Cattle (also locally referred to as Dong Cattle by farmers) is mainly produced in 257 administrative villages across 18 townships in Ning County, Qingyang City. Adjacent areas include Gonghe Plateau in Zhengning County, Dongzhi Plateau in Xifeng District’s Xiaojin and Dongzhi, as well as Tunzi Plateau in Zhenyuan County. The central production area includes Zaosheng, Liangping, Pingzi, and Zhongcun in Zaosheng Plateau (the origin of the name Zaosheng Cattle), with other counties and districts of Qingyang City also raising Zaosheng Cattle to varying degrees. Qingyang City is located in the northeastern part of Gansu Province, along the upper reaches of the Jing River, between longitude 106°24′–108°42′ east and latitude 35°25′–37°10′ north, at elevations ranging from 860 to 1,760 meters. The terrain slopes from northwest to southeast, covering a total land area of 27,119 square kilometers. Due to factors such as climate, topography, and economic development levels, the distribution of Zaosheng Cattle exhibits varying characteristics across regions. There are 375,000 head of Zaosheng Cattle annually, producing 9,000 tons of beef.