Cost efficiency analysis of beef cattle breeding under the “Changing Grain to Forage” policy using panel data for pilot areas in eight provinces

The steady advancement of the “Changing Grain to Forage” policy has far-reaching effects on the high-quality development of animal husbandry in China. This study explored changes in the efficiency of beef cattle breeding under the “Changing Grain to Forage” policy based on production monitoring panel data for 22 pilot areas in eight provinces (Anhui, Hebei, Henan, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and Yunnan). Data were combined with a cost efficiency model and the Malmquist index to calculate changes in the cost efficiency of beef cattle breeding between 2013 and 2019. Since the implementation of the policy, the cost of beef cattle feed in the pilot areas has remained relatively stable, particularly compared with the significant increase in costs in non-pilot areas. Over the study period, the proportion of roughage increased by 7.3 percentage points, the proportion of concentrated feed decreased, and the feed structure was improved to some extent compared with that before implementation of the policy. The cost efficiency of beef cattle breeding in most provinces improved, to varying degrees, but the unreasonable allocation of production input materials still remains an issue. Compared with non-pilot areas, the price of beef cattle breeding input factors in the pilot areas improved, and implementation of the policy played a positive role in improving the “distortion” degree of input factor prices. Under an assumption of labor homogeneity, beef cattle breeding in the pilot area had the highest labor input redundancy. The results indicate that expansion of the “Grain to Forage” policy should continue in combination with efforts to strengthen technical guidance, combine planting and breeding, and establish planting based on breeding to eliminate redundancies.