Core Viewpoint - The introduction of a new child-rearing subsidy policy in China is expected to significantly boost demand in the dairy industry, leading to notable stock price increases for major dairy companies [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - Dairy stocks have seen substantial gains, with Australia Asia Group (02425) rising by 35.62% to HKD 1.98, Modern Farming (01117) up 13.49% to HKD 1.43, and others like Original Ecology Farming (01431) and China Shengmu (01432) also experiencing increases [1] - The overall positive sentiment in the dairy sector is reflected in the stock performance of leading companies [1] Group 2: Policy Impact - The newly implemented child-rearing subsidy scheme will provide annual subsidies of CNY 3,600 per child for children under three years old starting January 1, 2025, potentially leading to an annual distribution of approximately CNY 100 billion [1] - This subsidy is expected to have a multiplier effect, enhancing demand for dairy products and benefiting the industry as a whole [1] Group 3: Market Dynamics - The current meat and milk cycle is favorable for livestock companies, with rising beef prices expected to improve profitability and cash flow for these firms [1] - Projections indicate that under a scenario where beef prices increase by 40% compared to 2024 levels, companies like Yuran Farming, Modern Farming, and China Shengmu could see revenue increases of CNY 440 million, CNY 340 million, and CNY 80 million respectively from cattle sales [1] - The upward trend in beef prices is anticipated to accelerate the clearing of social ranch inventories, positively impacting the supply of raw milk and subsequently influencing raw milk prices [1]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Accumulate" rating for the industry [6] Core Insights - The current state of China's raw milk and beef industries is at the bottom of the cycle, with the dairy industry gradually clearing capacity towards a balance in supply and demand [1] - The beef industry has seen a price recovery, with live cattle prices rebounding since February 2025, driven by reduced imports and a tightening supply [2] - The report indicates that the dairy cycle's darkest moment is expected to end within 1.5 years, with signs of marginal improvement in the first half of 2025 [1] Summary by Sections Raw Milk Industry - As of July 10, 2024, the price of fresh milk is 3.04 CNY/kg, down 6.17% year-on-year, with over 90% of the dairy industry experiencing losses [1] - The China Dairy Association forecasts a 4.5% year-on-year decrease in dairy cow inventory for 2024, with further price declines expected in 2025 [1] - There are indications of a narrowing decline in raw milk prices in the first half of 2025, with a significant reduction in milk powder spray volume [1] Beef Industry - The beef industry is entering a replenishment phase, with a 2.9% growth in cattle inventory in 2023, but a projected 4.4% decline in 2024 [2] - Live cattle prices and market averages have increased by 8.3% and 7.4% respectively since February 2025 [2] - The industry is experiencing a culling cycle for breeding cows, leading to a decrease in the number of calves born [2] Company Performance YouRan Agriculture - In 2024, YouRan achieved revenue of 20.1 billion CNY, a year-on-year increase of 7.5%, with fresh milk production rising by 24.1% to 3.747 million tons [3] - Despite a decrease in average selling price of fresh milk to 4.1 CNY/kg, the company managed to improve its gross margin [3] - The company reported a loss of 690 million CNY for the year due to declining raw milk and beef prices [3] Modern Farming - Modern Farming's revenue decreased by 1.5% year-on-year to 13.25 billion CNY, with fresh milk production increasing by 13.6% [4] - The average selling price of fresh milk fell by 10.3% to 3.6 CNY/kg, resulting in a loss of 1.47 billion CNY for the year [4] - Future price increases in milk and beef are expected to positively impact the company's core business [4] China Shengmu - China Shengmu reported a revenue decline of 7.6% to 3.13 billion CNY in 2024, with fresh milk sales price down by 6.1% [7] - The company is positioned to benefit from the rising beef prices due to its dual focus on dairy and beef production [7] Tianrun Dairy - Tianrun's revenue for 2024 is projected at 2.8 billion CNY, a 3.3% increase, but net profit is expected to drop by 69.3% due to losses from cattle disposal [8] - The company is expected to improve its operations as it reduces cattle disposals in subsequent quarters [8]