Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, became the 
country's first green sheep-farming city thanks to its efforts in grassland 
ecological protection and green sheep farming. The honor was rolled out by 
China Meat Association during a summit on green sheep farming held in Xilinhot 
on July 19, 2021, according to The Publicity Department of Xilingol.

The recognition will become another signature brand for Xilingol League to 
build a green animal products production, processing and export base, marking a 
new solid step in the high-quality development of the region's animal husbandry.

Attendees visited several leading ranches to get a glimpse of the pure natural 
and pollution-free growth environment of Xilingol sheep, while learning about 
its quality management throughout the whole process by visiting standardized 
mutton deep processing and central kitchen project of leading local meat firm 
Grand Farm.

Xilingol mutton has gained the National Geographical Indication Certification. 
It was selected as one of the top 100 regional public brands of agricultural 
products in China in 2017 and the most valuable and influential brand in 
China's meat industry in 2018. Xilingol has been jointly selected by nine 
government departments as a competitive zone in raising local sheep. With sales 
of 150,000 tons of high-quality fresh mutton at home and abroad every year, 
Xilingol has become an important green livestock product supply base in 
northern China.

Xilingol has been building its public regional brand as a pioneer in the 
sheep-raising industry. It has rolled out the brand's quality standard system, 
utilization rules and development plans in a bid to promote the high-standard 
and high-level growth of the region public brand.

While focusing on all-round brand promotion, the local government also puts 
emphasis on quality traceability across the whole industrial chain and quality 
monitoring of the whole process. Three firms including Grand Farm, Eerdun and 
Yangyang Husbandry have been licensed to use the regional public brand. 
Licensed enterprises must be strict with order production, with each sheep 
wearing an ear tag to ensure whole-process traceability for customers.

Source: The Publicity Department of Xilingol