Agricultural Encyclopedia of China (Volume of Chinese Veterinary Medicine)

Author: Committee of Chinese Veterinary Volume of the General Committee of the Encyclopaedia of Chinese Agriculture
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1991-09-01
Features: The Encyclopaedia of Chinese Agriculture is a large-scale reference book that compiles agricultural science knowledge from China and abroad, spanning ancient and modern times. China has a long history of agriculture, and the accumulation of agricultural science knowledge is profound. Many agricultural works published in various dynasties of China are important parts of the cultural treasury of the Chinese nation. The "Essential Techniques for the People" by Jia Sixie during the Northern Wei Dynasty and the "Agricultural Administration" by Xu Guangqi in the Ming Dynasty are hailed as the agricultural encyclopedias of ancient China and are cherished by scholars both at home and abroad to this day. In modern times, with the rapid advancement of science and technology, agricultural production has developed swiftly, and agricultural science has evolved into a comprehensive system composed of multiple disciplines. Facing modernization and the world, compiling and publishing the Encyclopaedia of Chinese Agriculture with modern significance to provide readers with accurate and concise knowledge of various agricultural disciplines is a common aspiration of the academic community and the general public. The Chinese agricultural economy is undergoing a transformation toward specialization, commercialization, and modernization. The fundamental characteristics of modern agriculture are the extensive application of advanced science and technology and management methods to accelerate the comprehensive development of agriculture. To gradually achieve agricultural modernization, it is necessary to accelerate the development of agricultural scientific research and education, train numerous agricultural science and technology talents, and popularize agricultural science and technology knowledge among farmers. It is also necessary to organize the legacy of historical agricultural works, summarize practical agricultural production experience, and absorb and introduce advanced science and technology from abroad. Therefore, compiling and publishing a comprehensive and concise large-scale reference book that introduces the existing agricultural science and technology knowledge of humanity is an urgent need for building a socialist modern agricultural economy. In early 1980, the National Agricultural Committee decided to compile and publish the Encyclopaedia of Chinese Agriculture and began the preparatory work. In June 1981, the Leading Group for Compilation and Publication and the General Editorial Committee were established to oversee and guide the work, and the Agricultural Publishing House was instructed to set up the Editorial Department of the Encyclopaedia of Chinese Agriculture to handle specific tasks. In 1982, after the dissolution of the National Agricultural Committee, the compilation and publication work of the entire book was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Fishery, and Forestry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Water Conservancy and Electric Power, the Ministry of Mechanical Industry, and the National Meteorological Bureau, ensuring the smooth progress of the work. The compilation of the Encyclopaedia of Chinese Agriculture was guided by Marxism and Mao Zedong Thought, based on the knowledge system of various agricultural disciplines, and involved professional workers from the agricultural science community and relevant departments in writing and reviewing the content. Emphasizing academic democracy, adhering to a scientific attitude of seeking truth from facts, focusing on manuscript quality, and following the encyclopedia format, the book reflects Chinese characteristics and style. The Encyclopaedia of Chinese Agriculture primarily summarizes knowledge related to the natural and economic reproduction of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery. While providing an overview of basic theories, it places emphasis on the introduction of applied technologies, offering a certain level of professional depth and practicality. Its main readers are agricultural science and technology workers, teachers and students of agricultural universities and colleges, agricultural cadres with high school or equivalent education, and farmers. This specialized encyclopedia introduces knowledge and provides corresponding materials in the form of entries, where each entry is an independent subject. It not only features the convenience of retrieval and easy access typical of general reference books but also introduces knowledge progressively, helping readers explore the depth and breadth of the subject. The Encyclopaedia of Chinese Agriculture is organized into volumes based on the knowledge system of various agricultural disciplines, with a planned total of about 30 volumes to be published in installments. Volume names are indicated without numbering, and if a single discipline or specialty is covered in more than two volumes, they are marked as upper, middle, and lower. This volume organization facilitates readers' selective purchases and makes the compilation and publication process more manageable. The compilation and publication of the Encyclopaedia of Chinese Agriculture is a fundamental project for the development of agricultural science in China. During the compilation process, it received strong support from relevant universities, research institutions, and production departments, as well as enthusiastic care, guidance, and support from national leadership and relevant academic societies. We extend our sincere gratitude in this regard. In compiling such a large-scale specialized encyclopedia, we lack experience, and any omissions or errors in the book are kindly requested by readers for correction to facilitate revisions in future editions. Editorial Department of the Encyclopaedia of Chinese Agriculture