Zhangye's dairy industry achieves high-quality development

Workers process milk at a dairy company in Zhangye, Gansu province. [Photo provided to gozhangye.com]

Amid the winter sunshine, cows graze on organic pastures in Zhangye, Gansu province. Their milk is processed into premium dairy products sold across the country. From breeding to smart farming, the sector has become a vibrant engine of economic growth.

As a key local industry, Zhangye has strengthened policies and expanded breeding scale. In the first half of this year, fresh milk output reached 196,100 metric tons, ranking first in the province with 31.04 percent year-on-year growth. Most large-scale farms have supply agreements with processors.

Leading enterprises are driving growth. Gansu Chuanqi Dairy, whose brands are sold nationwide, processed 29,000 tons of milk this year, generating 170 million yuan ($24.05 million yuan) in revenue. In September, the company launched a 2,400-ton daily deep-processing project, advancing into cheese, milk powder and cream production.

Policy support is robust. Zhangye has issued multiple industry plans and incentives, attracting firms like Beijing Sanyuan Foods and Guangdong Yantang Dairy. The city is now home to 21 large-scale farms, accounting for 98.7 percent of its dairy herd. The cow population grew from 43,000 in 2017 to 113,800 in 2024.

Efforts focus on quality. Farms have introduced high-yield breeds like Holstein and Jersey, with annual subsidies improving herd quality. The average milk yield per cow rose from 7 tons in 2017 to 10.5 tons in 2024.

Several farms have obtained organic certification, covering 42,500 mu (2833.33 hectares) of pasture. Fifteen dairy brands have been developed, including six organic products. Companies like Gansu Huarui Agriculture are exploring deep-processing for the high-end market.