Foundation, prospects and suggestions for the development of the forage industry in southern China

Forage and grass are important material basis for the development of animal husbandry. Accelerating the development of the forage grass industry is an effective method to reduce the food security pressure on feed grain. However, northern China is currently under great pressure to produce forage grass. In the present study, we firstly describe the importance of the forage industry development in southern China. And then we present and analyze the current situation and development of the forage industry in southern China, and evaluate their development potential, market prospects and social ecological effects. The study results indicate that southern China possesses abundant natural resources for development of the forage industry. Moreover, pasture planting has already reached a relatively high scale, and the exploration forms the planting pattern suitable for the regional characteristics. Due to the strong demands for commodity forage, the development of the forage industry in southern China has great potential and social and economic effects. However, southern China also faces many other problems, such as uneven land, low technology, and poor policies and management systems. Finally, from the perspectives of macro strategic positioning, policy and system supply, technical support system, and project implementation, we propose the development countermeasures and suggestions for China's forage grass industry in the near future.