Kulun Donkeys

Kulun Donkeys

　　Kulun donkeys were once recognized in Inner Mongolia’s Livestock and Poultry Breed Register and China’s Horse Register for their excellent climbing ability, strong endurance, and stable genetics. Today, these small donkeys, which once played a starring role in transportation and agricultural production, have become a new favorite for farmers in Kulun Banner, Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia, as a means to boost income and prosperity.

　　This year, Kulun Banner plans to build 10 standardized large-scale donkey breeding zones, 30 artificial insemination stations, 1 high-quality breed farm, and 1,000 donkey sheds. By relying on self-breeding and introducing breeding donkeys, the banner aims to increase its total donkey population by 30,000 on top of the existing number, reaching a total of 70,000, and move toward becoming a major industry for enriching the people. The “8337” development strategy formulated by Inner Mongolia and the city’s “Four Points and One Belt” plan for developing distinctive and green organic livestock industries have pointed the way for Kulun to leverage its unique advantages to grow the donkey industry. To accelerate the goal of establishing a 100,000-donkey breeding base by 2015, the banner has launched a comprehensive set of measures.

　　The banner has implemented a “6+2” donkey industry development model consisting of breeding zones, eco-farms, cooperatives, bases, specialized villages, individual breeders + leading enterprises, and trading markets. It continues to promote development based mainly on smallholders while scaling up donkey breeding. In addition to actively coordinating loans for donkey purchases and shed construction for breeders, a 5 million yuan subsidy fund for the donkey industry has been established. Breeding zones that meet standardized criteria and house more than 300 donkeys will receive a subsidy of 300,000 yuan each. Breeders purchasing breeding stallions and foundation female donkeys will be subsidized 1,000 yuan per breeding stallion and 200 yuan per foundation female donkey. Those who purchase 20 or more foundation females in one go will receive an additional 50 yuan per donkey, and those buying 50 or more will get an extra 100 yuan per donkey. Support funds are also provided for building artificial insemination stations and high-quality breed farms. At the same time, the banner has established a strategic partnership with Shandong Dong-E E-Jiao Co., Ltd., which provides local donkey breeders with advanced breeding and management technologies, frozen semen, and breed improvement techniques free of charge, supporting them in breed enhancement and building the “China Kulun Donkey” green organic brand.

　　To establish a market system where breeders can operate independently and trade freely, thereby smoothing the sales channels for commercial donkeys, the banner is actively guiding breeders to form cooperatives and has invested 10 million yuan to plan and build a large-scale donkey trading market along the route from Kulun to Fuxin. The first phase of the market covers a planned area of 46,000 square meters and will be a large trading hub primarily for donkeys, along with the trading of cattle, sheep, and other livestock, as well as quarantine services and comprehensive services. The market includes a 25,000-square-meter trading area, supplemented by office space, parking lots, dining and accommodation facilities, and more. Once operational this year, it will provide a fast and convenient trading platform for breeders in the banner and surrounding areas.

　　Aiming to maximize the added value of the donkey industry, last year the banner introduced 1.05 billion yuan in investment to implement a bio-pharmaceutical project by Inner Mongolia Huateng Tianlong Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd., which processes 50,000 donkeys per year. Utilizing the “Kulun Donkey” brand, the project produces a range of biological pharmaceutical and health products such as antimicrobial peptides, serum albumin, antibacterial preservation films, and E-jiao, as well as a series of deeply processed donkey meat products. At the same time, the company purchases meat donkeys raised by farmers at prices 5% higher than the market rate, helping farmers boost their income through donkey breeding. Once completed and operational, the project will achieve an annual production capacity of 500 tons of traditional Chinese medicine E-jiao, 1,000 tons of health supplement E-jiao blood tonic oral liquid, and 5,000 tons of E-jiao granules, injecting vitality into the economic development of Kulun.