Cattle
Origins—The land mass encompassed by China
today has historically been home to a rich diversity
of bovine animals, including common cattle (Bos taurus),
Zebu cattle (Bos indicus, sometimes called humped cattle),
water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), and yak (Bos grunniens).
The Chinese cattle industry today groups domestic bovines
into yellow cattle, dairy cattle, water buffalo, and
yak. In 1986, these groups included 34 officially recognized
native bovine breeds, four developed breeds, and seven
major introduced bovine breeds (Longworth 2001:44).
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Plowing with draft cattle, Eastern
Han Dynasty
(25-220 AD) |
Early History—Cattle
have played an important role in China for over three
thousand years. The domestication of cattle began in
China near the Yellow River about 8,000 to 10,000 BC
(Longworth 2001:45). The earliest written form of the
Chinese language included a word for cow, or bovine
animal. Many of the early written references to cattle
were records of ritual animal sacrifices. Early Chinese
historians described elaborate sacrifices of cattle
and other animals. Some Chinese scholars believe that,
in addition to serving religious purposes, these sacrificial
rituals also provided rare opportunities to butcher
and consume meat (Xie 1985:38).
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| Early Chinese characters for "cow" |
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Yaks in Xining, Qinghai
Photo by J. Willis |
Imperial China—Although
cattle were slaughtered for meat, the primary role of domesticated
bovine animals in China for many centuries was to pull carts
and farm implements. Chinese experts believe that, although
oxen were used to pull crude plows of bone or wood in early
China, the use of bovine draft animals to pull plows probably
became more widespread after the development of iron plows
during the Eastern Chou Dynasty 770 BC-221 BC (Xie 1985:44).
In recognition of the importance of these draft animals to
food production, most of the dynastic regimes issued edicts
forbidding the slaughtering of bovine draught animals. This
did not mean, however, that no beef was consumed. Non-draft
cattle were often raised for imperial rituals and also for
the imperial banquet hall. The common people had some access
to beef through loopholes in the law, such as the exceptions
for old or crippled draft cattle and for animals that had
been accidentally injured or killed (Xie 1985:47-50).
Husbandry—Putting
cattle out to forage on pasture during the warm months
and sheltering them in pens or barns during the winter
months was common throughout the history of China. Penned
cattle were often fed bran, legumes, straw, or alfalfa
hay (Xie 1985:77-78).
Taxation of Cattle—During
several periods in the history of China, troops were
stationed in unexploited regions, to open up new areas
for cultivation. Draught cattle were often used to break
new ground. The farmers who then cultivated those areas
were often required to submit a tax in return for the
draught animals, usually in the form of a calf each
year. Taxing cattle as property was a common form of
taxation throughout the history of China. Farmers who
were unable to submit a calf were required to pay in
cash. During times of war, cattle were often seized
by the government to serve or feed troops (Xie 1885:58-60).
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