Coupling and coordinating relationship between forage industry and herbivorous animal husbandry in southwest China: Based on field research in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou

The southwest region of China is rich in grassland resources, with the rapid development of herbivorous animal husbandry, and has the potential of developing high-quality forage and herbivorous animal husbandry. However, a recent survey revealed a huge gap between forage supply and demand in southwest China, which restricts the further development of herbivorous animal husbandry. To accurately understand the development relationship between the forage industry and herbivorous animal husbandry in southwest China, this study aimed to analyze the coupling relationship between the two using the coupling coordination model and put forward relevant countermeasures and suggestions based on the field survey. The study results exhibited that the coupling coordination degree of the forage industry and herbivorous animal husbandry in southwest China was basically in the state of primary coordination to intermediate coordination, and the coordination degree was relatively low from 2015 to 2020. The main factor affecting the coordinated development of the two is the lagging development level of the forage industry. The shortage of land resources, low level of mechanization and scale, and insufficient policy support in southwest China are important factors restricting the development of the forage industry. Efforts should be made to tackle the uncoordinated development of forage industry and herbivorous animal husbandry in southwest China by improving the development level of forage industry. It is suggested to follow the development idea of “establishing grass as an industry”, promote the development of the forage industry via refining production conditions, innovating support policies, improving the competitiveness of forage seed industry, and realize the coordinated development of the forage industry and herbivorous animal husbandry.