Wuzhong Milk

Wuzhong Milk

Wuzhong Milk is a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Wuzhong Milk

　　Geographical Scope

　　The production area of Wuzhong Milk includes 11 towns and townships in Wuzhong City: Shangqiao Town, Dongta Township, Gucheng Town, Jinjintan Town, Guojiabridge Township, Banqiao Township, Malianqu Township, Gaozha Town, Jijin Town, Biandangou Town, and the Management Committee of Sunjiatan. The geographical coordinates are longitude 106°06′–106°22′ east and latitude 37°30′–38°08′ north. The terrain is predominantly flat plains, with elevations ranging from 1,126 to 1,127 meters above sea level. To the west, it borders the Yellow River and is adjacent to Qingtongxia City; to the south, it meets the Hongsi Pu Development Zone; to the northeast, it borders Lingwu City. It is 59 kilometers away from Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia. The region stretches 70 kilometers from north to south and 20 kilometers from east to west, covering a total area of 1,112 square kilometers. The annual milk output is 350,000 tons.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: The topography of Litong District in Wuzhong City features a unique landscape that combines the charm of southern water towns with the grandeur of the northern desert. The land slopes from south to north, resembling the shape of an amphora, and consists largely of two parts. The southern part is a hilly area formed by the convergence of the Niushou Mountain and Luoshan Mountain ranges, while the northern part, along the Qin Canal, Han Canal, and the Yellow River, consists of the Yellow River Plain. Excluding hills and riverbanks, the land is divided into two major areas: new irrigation zones and old irrigation zones, accounting for 11% and 38% of the total land area, respectively. Shangqiao Town, Dongta Township, Gucheng Town, Jinjintan Town, Guojiabridge Township, Banqiao Township, Malianqu Township, Gaozha Town, and Jijin Town belong to the old irrigation zone, while Biandangou Town and the Management Committee of Sunjiatan belong to the new irrigation zone.

　　(2) Hydrology: The water resources in Wuzhong City mainly rely on the Yellow River, which flows through the area, covering a distance of 28 kilometers. The city has an average annual water diversion of 689 million cubic meters, accounting for 17% of Ningxia’s total Yellow River irrigation water. Another water system is the Kushui River (also known as Shanshuigou), which runs through the area for 54 kilometers and serves as the largest natural drainage river in the district, with a maximum flood discharge capacity of 80 cubic meters per second.

　　(3) Climate: Wuzhong City has a continental monsoon climate, classified as mid-temperate semi-arid. It features late springs, short hot summers, early cool autumns, and long cold winters. The annual average temperature is 8.8°C, with a relative humidity of 53%. The average annual sunshine duration is 2,936.4 hours, and the frost-free period averages 173.6 days. The main characteristics include low precipitation, intense evaporation, scarce and concentrated rainfall, large temperature variations, a short frost-free period, and relatively long sunshine hours. The average annual rainfall is 193.4 mm, mostly concentrated in July, August, and September, often occurring as heavy rain that can lead to surface runoff. The average annual evaporation is 2,013.7 mm, about ten times the amount of rainfall.

　　(4) Humanistic History: Wuzhong City is rich in natural resources and talented people. With its long history, strategic geographical location, abundant produce, and strong economic base, it is renowned as the “Jiangnan of the Frontier,” shining brightly in the heart of the Ningxia Plain. As a county-level district of Wuzhong City and the seat of the Wuzhong Municipal Government, it is the political, economic, and cultural center of the region and the largest livestock trading hub in northwest China. The Yellow River runs from south to north through the city, which features flat terrain, fertile soil, crisscrossing irrigation channels, ample sunlight, and reliable harvests whether dry or wet. The area produces abundant wheat, corn, soybeans, and other crops, with plentiful forage supporting a thriving livestock industry. Over the years, the local Hui and Han communities have accumulated rich animal husbandry experience. Beef cattle farming has become a key industry for increasing farmers’ incomes, with a solid foundation. In recent years, Wuzhong has accelerated the transformation from traditional to modern animal husbandry, actively promoting agricultural industrialization. It has established competitive industrial systems in dairy farming, halal beef and mutton production, and high-quality forage cultivation and processing. It is recognized as a national-level “high-yield, high-efficiency, high-quality” agricultural demonstration zone for transforming agricultural products and a model county for agricultural industrialization.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Origin Selection and Special Provisions: The production area of Wuzhong Milk includes 11 towns and townships in Wuzhong City: Shangqiao Town, Dongta Township, Gucheng Town, Jinjintan Town, Guojiabridge Township, Banqiao Township, Malianqu Township, Gaozha Town, Jijin Town, Biandangou Town, and the Management Committee of Sunjiatan.

　　(2) Breed Selection and Specific Requirements: High-quality Chinese Holstein dairy cows are selected.

　　(3) Production Process Management, Including Special Provisions for Agricultural Inputs: The farm site should comply with the principles outlined in GB/T18407.3, selecting locations that are sheltered from wind, exposed to sunlight, on high, dry, and flat terrain, with good water quality, sufficient water supply, proper drainage, convenient transportation, and no pollution nearby, as well as ease of epidemic prevention. Sufficient consideration must also be given to the availability of forage. Within a 3-kilometer radius of the farm, there should be no chemical plants, meat processing plants, tanneries, slaughterhouses, or other livestock farms acting as pollution sources. The farm should be at least 1 kilometer away from towns, residential areas, and public spaces, and more than 300 meters away from major roads.

　　When using therapeutic agents, compliance with the "Quality Standards for Veterinary Biological Products of the People's Republic of China," the "Veterinary Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China," and the "Veterinary Drug Specifications of the People's Republic of China" is required. Complete medication records must be established and maintained, including individual cow identification numbers, onset time and symptoms, drug names (brand name, active ingredients, manufacturing unit), administration route, dosage, treatment duration, and treatment time. Drugs must adhere to withdrawal period regulations, and milk that has not met the required withdrawal period cannot be processed or sold.

　　(4) Regulations on Product Harvesting, Slaughter, Fishing, and Post-Harvest Processing: Mechanical milking is mandatory to avoid human contamination, and transport vehicles must undergo strict disinfection.

　　Typical Quality Characteristics and Product Quality Safety Standards

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: After over 30 years of careful breeding, the fresh milk produced by dairy farms in Litong District is milky white or slightly yellow, free of sediment or visible impurities, presenting as a uniform colloidal liquid with the inherent creamy aroma of fresh milk.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: Each 1,000 grams of fresh milk contains 3.5 grams of fat, 3.2 grams of protein, and over 11.5% dry matter.

　　(3) Safety Requirements: In accordance with laws and regulations such as the "Animal Epidemic Prevention Law of the People's Republic of China" and non-polluting livestock product production standards, strict management of breeding bases is enforced. National standards for non-polluting food production such as NY5028, GB18596, NY/T388, NY5045, and GB5410 are strictly implemented.

　　Packaging, Labeling, and Related Regulations

　　In accordance with GB7718 and GB9683 standards, the packaging specification is 25 kg per bag, stored at 2–6°C, and transported under full cold chain. The packaging bags are labeled with the geographical indication “Wuzhong Milk.”