アニマルウェルフェア畜産の市場性
The Importance of Greater Consideration for Industrial Animals
桑島雄三 株式会社パル・ミート 商品統括部長
Yuzo KUWAJIMA Products General Manager (Director), Pal Meat Co. Ltd.
[Slide 1] Hello. I am Yuzo Kuwajima of[Slide 4] Within the group, I am working at a specialized

Pal Meat. Dr. Sato asked me to talkcompany that is engaged in the purchasing, planningabout how the rearing of livestock inand coordination of meat products.

line with animal welfare principles canbe part of a successful meat product[Slide 5] Pal Meat handles everything from purchasing

business, so in this talk I intend toto processing through tie-ups with producers acrossfocus mainly on that subject. But ﬁrst

Japan. [Slide 6] Specifically, our Narashino Factory inof all, let me introduce our coop.

Chiba Prefecture has a packing center for so-called table
meat and dressed meat, and in Yamagata Prefecture,[Slide 2] Pal System Cooperative Union is an association[Slide 7] we have a ham and sausage factory. Withof ten local coops centered on the Kanto region. Thereregard to the production regions we are involved with,are other regions in Japan that have one coop per[Slide 8] in the case of pork we handle approx. 100,000

prefecture. But in Kanto, three or four coop groups are

pigs per year from 11 production districts. [Slide 9] In

engaged in fierce competition, and Pal System is thethe case of beef and chicken, we deal with 5 productions e c o n d l a r g e s t c o o p g r o u p i n e a c h o f K a n t oʼ s

districts, respectively. Each production district has its

prefectures. Ever since our establishment, we haveown characteristic points. [Slide 10] In the case ofcentered our business on providing consumers withbroilers, we purchase about 4 million chickens annually

products direct from the producer. Currently we are

and our suppliers practice standardized raising using

proceeding with this “direct from the producer” policy

feed that is free from pharmaceutical additives.

so that people can see clearly when, where and how theproducts are produced and who produces them. In[Slide 11] All in all, a theme that the members of ouraddition, we are committed to disclosing production

coop have always been highly concerned about is thatrecords in order to provide our members with safe andof residues from drugs - so-called veterinary drugs - andsecure products. Our current membership is on theantibiotics, so dealing with this issue has been a major

order of one million households.

task for us. Put simply, realizing the rearing of healthy
animals in a healthy rearing environment in order to[Slide 3] Another feature of Pal System is that it isreduce the need for drug use has been a consistentessentially a non-store retail home-delivery businesstheme for our coop.

that has almost no regular stores. With regard to thecatalogs for the home delivery business, while other[Slide 12] Another thing is that we disclose the contents

coops print only one weekly catalog, we publish threeof the animal feed used. Consumers of meat products

different catalogs each week. In this slide, the catalog

usually donʼt know much about how the animals wereon the left is for households that have babies or infants,

raised or what kinds of feed or drugs they were given,

the one in the middle is for households with older

so we strongly wish to make these things clear.

children who have big appetites, and the one on theright is for households where child raising is ﬁnished -[Slide 13] We first started to become conscious about

the so-called baby boomer generation. We issue theseanimal welfare, which is the theme of this workshop, inthree catalogs targeted at these diﬀerent generations.

2006. At that time, we invited Dr. Sato and held a study
meeting together with meat producers and members

46

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産業動物の福祉と経営

of our coop. Prior to that, although we were not reallyveterinarians, reducing stress among livestock leads toconscious of animal welfare as such, we were raisinga reduction of mortality and an improvement in meat

local ʻshamoʼ (gamecocks) under a rearing system thatquality. We used to consider that if we were to proceed

controlled the number of birds per ʻtsuboʼ unit of spacewith animal welfare, it would only result in higher costs,(3.3m2) along the type of ground conditions introduced

but nowadays we consider that, while implementing

earlier by Dr. Ohara. We were also grazing Angus cattle

animal welfare may be a roundabout way of doingin Hokkaido. In this way, our production was employing

things, it can actually lead to lower costs overall.

rearing methods matched to the psychology of cattle asHowever, we also consider that even if animal welfare

herbivorous animals. Additionally within our group,

does not lead to lower costs, it is still something wesince 2006, and together with the production sites, weshould be undertaking. In this respect, there is no needhave established a method of assessing production

for us to be slaves to convention.

called the ʻlivestock production indexʼ, which is basedon ideas such as appropriate agricultural standards and[Slide 17] The livestock production index means that

GAP-like concepts. In this index, we have included items

the producers themselves participate and are involved

such as what animal welfare measures are being taken.

in establishing standards, setting out the checking

We ask ourselves if feed and water is provided

items in the various production and rearing processes,

appropriately according to animal welfare principles,checking whether the disposal of wastes is beingetc. Since then, we have developed this method further

performed appropriately, etc., and confirming thesewhile repeatedly holding study meetings with ouritems. Through this, the producers can improve theirproducers. In 2008, we visited Europe to study how

performance comprehensively on their own.

animal welfare practices are implemented there. Now
we are beginning to implement an animal welfare[Slide 18] In concrete terms, there are approximately 50

approach in earnest by, for example, starting the sale ofitems in the index and they are each classiﬁed as Level

pork from the “welfare challenge” pigs reported onA, B or C. Level A consists of matter-of-course items thatearlier by Mr. Toyoshita.

we want the producers to implement without fail, suchas organizing rearing management records. Level B[Slide 14] Regarding the local shamo that I mentioned

consists of items that we want the producers toearlier, Core Food produces 30,000 each year and these

implement if at all possible, so we set up suitablebirds have been raised in this sort of environment since

opportunities for agricultural workers to learn how to

before we began to specifically implement animal

do so. And Level C consists of items we want thewelfare measures. [Slide 15] Beef production isproducers to make an effort to implement, such as

interrelated with our sales method based on a systemusing non-GMO feed, improving the self-sufficiency

under which 150 cattle are registered each year andratio of feed such as by using local rice, and other things

about 12 head are sold each month with the meatthat present slightly higher hurdles. Each index item isbeing purchased by coop members who wish to eat it

common to all kinds of livestock, and we are currently

and who have registered for a half-year period. The

tackling them in raising diﬀerent kinds of livestock suchmeat from the 12 cattle is split among theseas pigs, egg-laying chickens, etc.

approximately 4,500 members each month.
[Slide 19] In creating the index, we set out animal[Slide 16] This item, which incorporates consciousness

welfare as a goal. Back in 2006, when we heard about

concerning animal welfare, is one of the items in theanimal welfare from Dr. Sato, we took the matter

livestock production index. Its major emphasis lies inseriously. For those who are handling industrial animals

the idea of reducing the stress experienced by livestock.

or engaged with livestock, animal welfare and animal

We anticipated that this would lead to a reduction in

feed self-sufficiency really are important issues.

the use of veterinary drugs. According to a number ofConcerning the feed self-sufficiency issue, consumers

Workshop Ⅲ Welfare and Management of Farmed Animals

47

are almost totally unaware that most of the feed given

to raise the domestic self-suﬃciency rate of the feed weto livestock that is raised in Japan is imported. Also,use and become more self-suﬃcient in making our own

aside from the issue of animal welfare itself, we werefeed. [Slide 26] We are considering making use ofhesitant about proposing animal welfare to consumers

abandoned cropland by letting pigs run free in such

because we felt that, if they were unaware of how

ﬁelds, so that instead of spending several million yen on

livestock was currently raised, to suddenly raise theengineering works, [Slide 27] we can employ pig powerissue might create confusion.

to clear the land and improve the soil and at the sametime improve our feed self-suﬃciency.

[Slide 20] However, we refined our idea as follows.
Under the current situation, in which meat eating is very

[Slide 28] These slides show the actual leaﬂet we issued

popular, from the standpoint of providing dietary

when we launched what we call “welfare challenge”

education for children it is very important to raisepork and began laying out the principles of animal

livestock properly and healthily and to keep the animals

welfare we were following. [Slide 29, 30, 31] In thishappy while they are alive; and it is very important thatleaflet, as Pal Systemʼs new approach, we explained

we face this issue.

about Porklandʼs new efforts and the backgrounddetails, and we declared that Pal System was tackling[Slide 21] In the light of the above, since 2007 we havethe animal welfare practices described in the leaﬂet.

been verifying the biobed rearing system that Dr. Kohariand Mr. Toyoshita explained earlier. This is an EU[Slide 32] As for the sales record of “welfare challenge”

standard, and recently the Japanese government

pork, despite being sold at a higher unit price thanannounced a management guideline as well. [Slide 22]

ordinary pork, the product is selling about 10% more.

We consider that although we donʼt have toActually, this year has been extremely tough for theaccommodate everything, we need to prepare our own

livestock business. As you are aware, market prices haveguideline based on Japanʼs current situation, and also

fallen steeply. For example, when the price of pork

to make it conform to this EU standard to a certain

carcasses dropped below 400 yen, our direct from theextent so that we can explain Japanese-style animal

farm pork price was set about 100 yen higher at 490

welfare with reference to EU standards too.

yen. We set the retail price to reflect the purchasing
price, given that the sales environment was very severe.

[Slide 23] Now I will explain about “welfare challenge”

Even under this situation, this “welfare challenge” pork,

pork. These pigs are raised on a biobed, a rearing

as well as pork from pigs raised on rice feed, had moremethod that is expected to satisfy the pigsʼ basic

support from our customers than ordinary pork. The

behavioral needs with respect to digging the ground,price of this pork is set at 65 yen higher per 100g thanetc., thereby allowing them to exhibit normal behavior.

ordinary pork in the case of ham for ʻshabu-shabuʼ

However, the argument as to whether or not using a(thinly-sliced meat dish), and at 11 yen higher per 100g

biobed is an animal welfare measure has not yet beenin the case of pork loin. As Mr. Toyoshita said earlier,

resolved in Japan. So, in the sense of tackling animal

costs have not risen actually. But although costs havewelfare, we have positioned meat from biobed-raised

not risen, from the standpoint of maintaining

pigs as “welfare challenge” pork and are marketing it asconsistency with other specialized pork products suchsuch.

as pork raised on rice feed, etc., we considered how
things would be if we priced “welfare challenge” pork

[Slide 24] Since we are running short of time, I canʼtthis high.

explain in detail, but this pork is raised in a way that48

takes account of animal welfare, [Slide 25] and at the[Slide 33] Regarding the purchasersʼ age structure, thesame time, we are trying to improve the self-suﬃciency

overwhelming majority of purchasers are middle-agedof the feed used as well. Currently, we are endeavoringor older. Since before, there has been a tendency for

ワークショップⅢ

産業動物の福祉と経営

products emphasizing this kind of concept to be lessnext stage. So it is essential for us to take the risk ofeasily accepted by the younger generation. A similar

engaging in communication concerning this subject.

tendency is evident with respect to organically grown[Slides 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47]

food products, with the vast majority of purchasers
being in the 40s, 50s or 60s age groups. We would likeThat concludes my report. Thank you very much for

to further expand sales of such products among

listening.

consumers in their 30s and 40s.
[Slide 34] Regarding the tasks that lie ahead in animal
welfare, we keenly feel that not enough discussion has
yet taken place. First of all, we would like to proceedwith proper meat-eating education in todayʼs “meateating” culture. [Slide 35] Rather than have them paying
attention to how nicely packed their meat products are,weʼd like people to approach their dietary life byincluding whole livestock products. As part of our eﬀort
to realize that, we hold study meetings at about 200
locations each year. [Slide 36] For example, the pork
dissection study meeting shown here consisted of ademonstration in front of a group of coop members.
[Slide 37] As for our second future task, we would like to
be involved in domestic certiﬁcation based on Westernstandards. It is important that Japan does not departtoo much from Western standards. On the other hand, if
Japan establishes its own standard departing
significantly from those of Western countries as aJapanese-style standard, the reasons for the diﬀerencesmust be clariﬁed. [Slide 38] According to British farmers,
they considered that implementing animal welfare
would result in lower costs. There was an idea thatraising livestock out of doors rather than in large-scale
facilities would form part of a solution. [Slide 39]
Concerning this issue, as I mentioned before, we think
we have to implement animal welfare in any case, but
we will deﬁnitely conduct research into possibilities for
cutting costs.
[Slide 40] I told you before that we hesitated tochallenge this animal welfare issue at the beginning,and even now that hesitation has not completelydisappeared. However, even though problems remain,
if a sense of aversion develops between consumers andlivestock raisers due to a lack of common
understanding, it will become diﬃcult to proceed to theWorkshop Ⅲ Welfare and Management of Farmed Animals

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Workshop Ⅲ Welfare and Management of Farmed Animals

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