Biosecurity and disease management in China’s animal agriculture sector

China’s livestock production sector is changing rapidly to meet a variety of challenges. The country is pursuing a major public animal health infrastructure upgrade and is seeking better integration with international public animal health programs. The intent of this article is twofold. We provide an overview of and commentary on China’s animal husbandry sector and animal disease control policies. We also assess weaknesses in its animal farm biosecurity infrastructure and institutional underpinnings. China’s animal health administration shares institutional weaknesses in common with higher-income countries, but her problems are more pronounced. Administrative failings include poorly demarcated and inconsistent oversight as well as weak accountability. Heterogeneous professional standards in animal health careers, emphasis on quantity goals over qualitative metrics, as well as a want in scientific analysis and follow-through when prioritizing are other shortcomings. Spillovers from the general economy as well as government policies on animal health career professionalization and organization of animal sector production have been, on the whole, positive developments. While animal production is changing in ways that may pose intermediate-term threats to animal and human health, the longer-term outcome is likely to be a production base that poses fewer concerns for global health.