Liaoning Liaoyu White Cattle

Liaoning Liaoyu White Cattle

Liaoning Liaoyu White Cattle is a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　The specific time when cattle were first raised in Liaoning is unknown. After the establishment of the Khitan Liao Dynasty, the government set up state-owned pastures managed by officials. By the mid-to-late Liao period, the Liao Dynasty had "a flourishing and multiplying livestock population, numbering over a million" (from *Liao History: Food and Commodities*). In addition to state-run pastures, from the nobility to commoners, all had varying numbers of privately owned livestock. From the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties to the early years of the People’s Republic of China, cattle had become the main power source for agricultural production in Liaoning. The method of raising cattle shifted from free-range to a combination of free-range and pen-raising, and the number of cattle a household owned became an important symbol of wealth. In the 1970s, as agricultural mechanization improved and living standards rose, the demand for cattle as draft animals declined, while the demand for beef grew rapidly. Against this backdrop, livestock professionals in Liaoning introduced the large French meat cattle breed Charolais and conducted graded crossbreeding with local yellow cattle. After 40 years, they successfully bred Liaoyu White Cattle—the first specialized meat cattle breed in Liaoning and the third in China. Liaoyu White Cattle features rapid growth, high feed efficiency, abundant meat yield, strong adaptability to roughage, resilience, excellent meat quality, and high fertility. It has become a key livestock breed for farmers and herders in Liaoning to escape poverty and achieve prosperity. Currently, the development of Liaoyu White Cattle has been incorporated into the *Liaoning Province Modern Animal Husbandry Advancement Plan*, the *13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Animal Husbandry in Liaoning Province*, and is a *key focus of the Liaoning Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine*. A comprehensive industrial chain for Liaoyu White Cattle is taking shape, its visibility continues to rise, and its role in driving industry growth is strengthening.

　　The newly bred Liaoyu White Cattle variety from Liaoning Province has passed the review of the National Animal Genetic Resources Committee and has been officially announced by the Ministry of Agriculture. Liaoyu White Cattle is the first independently bred specialized meat cattle breed in Liaoning and a milestone in the development of the province’s beef cattle industry.

　　It is understood that previously, the main type of cattle raised in Liaoning were local yellow cattle formed through natural selection, which had low meat production performance. The successful breeding of the Liaoyu White Cattle variety has reversed the situation of excessive reliance on imported beef bulls in Liaoning, especially providing favorable genetic resources for further accelerating the development of the province’s beef cattle industry. Liaoning will vigorously promote the industrial development and demonstration of Liaoyu White Cattle. Through market-driven approaches and measures such as leading enterprise involvement, technological support, system guarantees, and policy assistance, the province aims to gradually grow and strengthen the Liaoyu White Cattle industry and establish itself as an important national supplier of high-quality beef cattle genetics and a producer of mid- to high-grade beef.

　　Geographic Scope

　　Liaoning Liaoyu White Cattle are produced in Liaoning Province, within the geographic coordinates of 118°53′ to 125°46′ east longitude and 38°43′ to 43°26′ north latitude. The province borders Jilin Province to the northeast, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the northwest, Hebei Province to the southwest, and faces Shandong Province across the sea. It is separated from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea by the Yalu River, and is bordered by the vast Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea to the south. Major production areas include Kaiyuan City, Diaobingshan City, Changtu County, Xifeng County, and Tieling County in Tieling City; Liaozhong County, Xinmin City, Faku County, and Kangping County in Shenyang City; Zhangwu County and Fuxin Mongolian Autonomous County in Fuxin City; Linghai City, Yixian County, Heishan County, and Beizhen Manchu Autonomous County in Jinzhou City; Panshan County in Panjin City; Fengcheng Manchu Autonomous County and Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County in Dandong City; Haicheng City, Tai’an County, and Xiuyan Manchu Autonomous County in Anshan City; Fushun County, Xinbin Manchu Autonomous County, and Qingyuan Manchu Autonomous County in Fushun City; Benxi Manchu Autonomous County and Huanren Manchu Autonomous County in Benxi City. These cover 9 cities, 26 counties (cities, districts), and 469 townships (towns, streets).

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) **External Sensory Features**: Liaoning Liaoyu White Cattle have white or straw-white coats, flesh-colored noses, and mostly wax-colored hooves and horns. They have a large body frame, sturdy build, well-developed muscles, and a rectangular body shape. Their heads are wide and slightly short, with broad foreheads and lips, medium to large ears, most with horns and a few without. Bulls have square heads, broad flat foreheads, long hair on the crown, and conical horns extending outward. Cows have delicate heads, thin round horns extending sideways and forward. Their necks are thick and short; cows’ necks are straight while bulls’ necks are slightly raised without humps. Both cows and bulls often have dewlaps on the neck and chest, with those of bulls being more pronounced. Their chests are deep and wide, ribs are rounded, backs and loins are broad and straight, rumps are wide and long with even hip ends, and hind legs are muscular. Their limbs are sturdy, of moderate length, and have strong hooves. Tails are of medium length; cows have well-developed udders. Liaoyu White Cattle have uniform coat color, robust builds, and gentle temperaments. They are adaptable to roughage, resilient, have broad adaptability, are easy to raise, gain weight quickly, and are suitable for fattening. They mature early and have good fertility. The herd has stable genetics, strong cold resistance, and can adapt to the temperate continental monsoon climate of northern regions. Adult Liaoyu White bulls weigh 910.5 kg, stand 146.2 cm tall, measure 186.8 cm in body length, and have a chest circumference of 229.3 cm. Adult cows weigh 451.2 kg, stand 126.8 cm tall, measure 164.4 cm in body length, and have a chest circumference of 179.2 cm. Birth weights are 41.6 kg for bulls and 38.3 kg for cows. At 6 months, bulls weigh 221.4 kg and cows weigh 190.5 kg. At 12 months, bulls weigh 366.8 kg and cows weigh 280.6 kg. At 24 months, bulls weigh 624.5 kg and cows weigh 386.3 kg. (2) **Internal Quality Indicators**: The beef of Liaoning Liaoyu White Cattle has a bright cherry-red color, with an actual test value of 3.39, considered the optimal meat color. Amino acid content reaches 84, crude protein ranges between 80–85, and cholesterol content is 220.2 mg/100g. Fat content is 10.61 (actual test value), with a white color and relatively firm texture. Intramuscular fat (marbling) is abundant, with a marbling score of 3.91. Juiciness is rated at 4.73, shear force of the carcass muscle is 3.45 kg/cm², water-holding capacity is 72.1%, and moisture loss is 23.1%. This shows that Liaoyu White Cattle beef is high in protein, low in fat, and low in cholesterol. The beef has good taste and tenderness, is soft and juicy, and has a pleasant flavor. (3) **Safety Requirements**: Feed for Liaoyu White Cattle must comply with the *Green Food Feed and Feed Additive Use Guidelines* and the *Feed Hygiene Standards*. Veterinary drugs must meet the requirements of the *Chinese Pharmacopoeia for Veterinary Drugs*, the *Chinese Veterinary Drug Specifications*, and NY5126-2002 *Pollution-Free Food Beef Cattle Breeding Veterinary Epidemic Prevention Guidelines*, and be used under veterinary guidance. Isolated and treated cattle may only rejoin healthy herds after full recovery. Diseased cattle requiring culling should be handled according to GB16548-1996 *Innocuous Treatment Procedures for Diseased Livestock Carcasses and Products*. Farms must have facilities for treating cattle manure, bedding, and waste, with waste management following principles of reduction, harmlessness, and resource utilization. Manure may be used as agricultural fertilizer after composting, and wastewater must be fermented and settled before use as liquid fertilizer. Vaccines for preventing infectious diseases must comply with the *Veterinary Biologics Management Measures* of the Ministry of Agriculture. Vaccination should follow the *Animal Epidemic Prevention Law of the People’s Republic of China* and the *Liaoning Liaoyu White Cattle Epidemic Prevention Technical Specifications*, selecting targeted vaccines based on local disease prevalence and administering them as required. Parasite prevention should use highly effective and safe antiparasitic drugs.