North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region is accelerating the development of a modern grass industry by utilizing its strengths in farming and animal husbandry, guided by market demand and supportive policies.

Zhao Yusheng, deputy director of the Inner Mongolia Department of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, said that the region raises more than 140 million head of grass-fed livestock annually, creating strong demand for forage. Cities including Bayaannur, Hohhot, and Tongliao are expanding modern grass production through artificial seeding, grassland restoration, and silage development, thereby promoting integrated grass–livestock production.

Inner Mongolia has rolled out policy packages to support high-quality grass industry development, focusing on improved seed breeding and standardized planting. Subsidies are provided for concentrated, standardized cultivation of alfalfa and smooth brome grass, with additional support for large-scale forage oat fields.

To ease competition for land between grain and forage, pilot models such as potato–forage oat crop rotation are being explored in Chifeng and Ulaanqab, improving land and water use efficiency while protecting soil fertility.

By 2025, the region's planted forage area exceeded 20.9 million mu (1.39 million hectares), with total supplies of artificial grass, natural grass, and forage straw topping 75 million metric tons — supporting key livestock chains such as dairy and beef, with an output value nearing 500 billion yuan ($72.99 billion).