Livestock production
Hiroki Nakatsuji
Laboratory of Animal Production System
Research Faculty of Agriculture
Hokkaido University
Email:nakahiro@anim.agr.hokudai.ac.jp

Chapter 5
Livestock Production

Hiroki Nakatsuji

Hokkaido is a major area of livestock production in Japan. According toStatistics on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Table 5-1), in 2006, thelivestock production of Hokkaido was of 502 billion yen, accounting for 18.6% of
the total livestock output of Japan, and was the highest among Japan’s 47
prefectures. Dairy farming holds a dominant position in Japan’s livestockproduction.
There is a large area of grasslands in Hokkaido, accounting 72.7% of thenational area of grasslands. In 2006, the number of dairy farmers was 8,590 andthere were 859,100 dairy cattle, which meant 100 cows per farm. Dairy farms in
Hokkaido are shipping 3,798,123 metric tons of milk (Table 5-2), that is, 46.7% ofJapan’s total milk production (Table 5-1).
1. Dairy
It is said that dairy farming in Hokkaido began with the milking of “NanbuCattle” in Hakodate city in 1857. In 1873, Mr. Edwin Dan, an agricultural expert
from United States, arrived as an advisor with commissioner Capron. He taught
the system of livestock production to Hokkaido’s people for 9 years. He laid thefoundation for dairy farming by introducing “Durham“ (Shorthorn) cows, whichwere used for both milk and beef in the United States.
In 1878, the Sapporo Agricultural College imported “Ayrshire” milking cows.
In 1889, for the first time in Japan, the college imported “Holstein” cattle (3females, “Shikishima”, “Sazanami” and “Chidori”; 2 males, “Akitsushima” and“Yamato”: as named in Japanese). Their descendants can be seen in thepresent barn of the Experimental Farm, Field Science Center for Northern
Biosphere (FSC), Hokkaido University (Fig. 5-1). “Holstein” is now the major

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Table 5-1. Hokkaido's share of grassland area and livestock production in Japan.
Unit
Hokkaido (A) Japan (B) Share (A/B), %Land Area
Grasslands
1,000 ha565
777
72.7
Gross Agricultural Output
Gross Output
1,066
8,806
12.1
Livestock Output
billion yen
502
2,702
18.6
Milk279666
41.9
Number of Livestock raisedDairy Cattle
859
1,635
52.5
Beef Cattle
467
2,755
17.0
Pig1,000 head
522
9,620
5.4
Layer
7,959 176,867
4.5
Race Horse
1010
95.9
Quantity of Livestock Product
Milk
1,000
3,798
8,134
46.7
Beef
metric ton
74
500
14.8
Statistics on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF, 2006)

Table 5-2. Yearly changes in livestock production in Hokkaido. (Units: head, ton)Year

Dairy Cattle
No.
Milk
Production

Beef Cattle
No.
DressedCarcass

1965
317,690663,546
13,6907,711
1975
614,800 1,447,640
125,460
17,778
1985
807,800 2,603,483
245,000
57,330
1995
882,900 3,443,060
430,400
92,034
2000
866,900 3,645,698
413,500
74,528
2004
863,500 3,821,238
446,800
75,0502005
857,500 3,861,101
447,700
74,111
2006
859,100 3,798,123
467,000
73,613
Statistics on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

1Pig

Layer
Chicken
Egg

No.

Dressed
CarcassNo.

163,390438,010604,000
582,400
546,100
535,400
521,900

18,79357,40087,09578,18772,222
72,39070,61570,617

3,839,000
6,041,000
7,633,000
8,313,000
8,237,000
7,474,000
7,959,000

34,48078,98992,194
112,581
110,781
107,147
105,738
106,067

32

Fig. 5-1. Experimental Farm of Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere (FSC),
Hokkaido University.
1. Dairy cattle barn.

2. Grazing of lactating dairy cows.

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3. Milking of cows.

breed of milking cows in Japan (Fig. 5-2).
In 1960s, the westernization of the Japanese diet increased the demand formilk and dairy products. To cope with this, modernization and the expansion ofdairy farms and improvement of grasslands were undertaken. Facilities
equipped with modern machinery were set up.
However, as farm sizes expanded, high labor requirement in dairy farming
had become a significant problem in Hokkaido (Fig. 5-3). To overcome this, afarm-helper association was set up in each region to allow farmers regularholidays and to prepare for accident and/or disease. However, certain problems
as described below have been observed in the efficient utilization of thegrassland ecosystem.
In Hokkaido, the number of dairy cattle has gradually increased over thepast 30 years, while the area of grasslands has remained nearly constant (Fig.
5-4). The milk yield per cow per 305 days has markedly increased from 6,000 kg
in the mid 1970s to the present 9,000 kg. Over the same period, the amount ofconcentrates fed has also greatly increased (Fig. 5-5). As a result, theself-sufficiency rate of feed (on a Total Digestible Nutrients [TDN] basis) in dairy
farming has decreased from 75% in 1975 to 55% in 2004. Clearly theremarkable increase in milk production could not have been achieved in
Hokkaido without the genetic improvement of Holstein cows as well as the heavy
consumption of imported concentrates. The present situation has led toenvironmental pollution by extra feces and urine, which cannot be absorbed andutilized by plants.
The supply of safe milk can be sustained and achieved only by returning to
the fundamentals of dairy farming, that is, by producing milk primarily throughthe soil-grass-animal interaction based on land use, without relying on thepresent concentrate based milk production system. Grazing is now being
recognized as a sustainable production system in harmony with the environment.
Grazing is a labor saving management system. The cows on pasture directly
affect the soil-grass-animal interaction. The productivity grazing is generally
regarded to be lower than forage harvesting. Sustainable grazing systems
should aim not only to be harmony with the environment, but also to increase
pasture productivity while maintaining sward characteristics.

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Fig. 5-2. Holstein.

Fig. 5-3. Large-scale dairy farm “Mega farm” in Tokachi district in Hokkaido.

x 10 3 heads
x 10 3 haDairy cattle

Grassland

808

858

1,000

kg/305d/cow

9,199
7,114

8,000

615
530

601

Conc. supplied

10,000800600Milk yield

607

6,000

400

5,900
3,139

4,000

200

2,000

0

1,3492,193

01975

1985

2004

1975

Fig. 5-4. Number of dairy cattle
and area of grasslands (includingforage-crop field) in Hokkaido.

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1985

2004

Fig. 5-5. Mean milk yield andconcentrate supplied during thelactation of Holstein cows in
Hokkaido.

Dairy farming is an activity based on the grassland ecosystem, in the sameway as crop farming is based on the agro-ecosystem. As crop production isusually measured as the yield per unit area cultivated, the milk production should
be expressed as the yield per unit area used for forage production, in addition tothe yield per cow. In the case of grazing, milk production from pasture should be
defined as milk yield per unit area of pasture. There have been many reports ofmilk production per unit area of pasture in United Kingdom and New Zealand,
although only limited data are available in East Asia. However, we have almost
completed compilation of such data from our researches of dairy farms in
Hokkaido, and a series of grazing experiments were carried out in theExperimental Farm of FSC, Hokkaido University. Results of the studies will be
discussed during the lecture.
2. Beef cattle
It is said that the raising of beef cattle was started in 1858, when “NanbuCattle” was introduced in Nanae town in the southwestern region of Hokkaido.
“Japanese Brown Cattle” (Katsumoo-Washu) (Fig. 5-6) and “JapaneseShorthorn” (Nihon-Tankakushu) (Fig. 5-7) were also introduced to complement
fishermen’s unstable incomes.
Since 1960s, with rapid economic growth the demand for beef in Japan has
increased. The number of castrated male “Holsteins” as beef cattle increased
the most in Hokkaido. In addition, during 1960s, new foreign breeds such as“Aberdeen-Angus” (Fig. 5-8) and “Hereford” (Fig. 5-9), which have a high abilityof forage utilization, were imported and experimented with grazing andhigh-forage-based diets, especially in Hokkaido. The Shizunai Livestock Farm of
FSC located in Hidaka district, 150 km to the southeast of Sapporo, has kept
about 100 heads of “Hereford” till now. Experiments were conducted oncomparison of the grass-fed-beef (lean meat) production system with grazingon the mountain-slope pasture in summer and high forage based diets
including mainly corn silage in winter.
Since 1991, when the Japanese beef market was opened to foreign trade,the meat produced from Holstein and the foreign breeds lost competitivenessagainst the imported beef, owing to similar quality. At present, “Japanese Black

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Fig. 5-6. Japanese Brown Cattle(Katsumoo-Washu).

Fig. 5-7. Japanese Shorthorn(Nihon-Tankakushu).

Fig. 5-8. Aberdeen-Angus.

Fig. 5-9. Herford.

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Cattle” (Kuroge-Washu) (Fig. 5-10), which is raised and fattened by high grain
based diets, is popular, producing high quality beef (with marbling) thatcompetes with imported beef.
In 2006, the number of beef cattle farmers was 3,000 in Hokkaido. There
were 467,000 heads of beef cattle and 73,613 metric tons of beef dressedcarcasses were produced (Table 5-2), accounting for 17.0 % and 7.9 % of thetotal beef cattle raised and beef dressed carcasses produced in Japan,
respectively (Table 5-1). Both the number of beef cattle raised and beef meatproduced are the highest in Hokkaido among Japan’s 47 prefectures.
The strategies for cost reduction, the establishment of Hokkaido Brand Beef,
and the expansion of markets will be important in order to prepare forinternational competition. Due to globally soaring grain prices the grass-fed-beef
production system with grazing and high-forage-based diets must be recognizedonce again as a low cost production system, which is also a sustainableproduction system in harmony with the environment. Like milk production, asustainable supply of safe beef can be achieved only by returning to thefundamentals of beef production, that is, by producing beef primarily through thesoil-grass-animal interaction based on land use, without relying on theconcentrate-based beef production system.
3. Pigs
In 2006, Hokkaido’s pig farms had 521,900 pigs, accounting for 5.4% of thenational total (Table 5-1). These were distributed amongst 323 farmers, andproduced 70,617 metric tons of pork dressed carcasses (Table 5-2).
Almost all pigs raised in Hokkaido are hybrids, in particular “three-waycrossbreds” among “Landrace” (Fig. 5-11), “Large White” (Fig. 5-12) and “Duroc”(Fig. 5-13). Purebreeds of “Landrace” sows and “Duroc” boars can be seen at
the Experimental Farm of FSC. The number of SPF (Specific Pathogen Free)
pigs is increasing leading to production of safe and delicious pork.
4. Chickens
In 2006, the number of egg-laying hens was 7,959,000 in Hokkaido,
accounting for 4.5% of the national total (Table 5-1). There were 93 poultry farms,

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Fig. 5-10. Japanese Black Cattle(Kuroge-Washu).

Fig. 5-11. Landrace.

Fig. 5-12. Large White.

Fig. 5-13. Duroc.

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egg production was 106,067 metric tons (Table 5-2). As the number of farmers
has decreased, the scale of operation has expanded. Some breeds ofegg-layers that can be seen at the Experimental Farm of FSC are “WhiteLeghorn” (Fig. 5-14) and “Rhode Island Red” (Fig. 5-15).
Chicken meat production started in earnest in the late 1980s, when large
companies moved to Hokkaido from other prefectures. The number of chickens
for meat production was 30.51 million in 2005, with broiler chickens accounting
89% of the total chicken meat produced.
5. Sheep
In 2006, there were 6,452 sheep and 197 sheep farmers. The major breedof sheep for meat production is “Suffolk” (Fig. 5-16).
Almost all sheep meat consumed in Japan is now imported from Australia
and New Zealand because of low prices. However, fresh and delicious lamb isbecoming more popular in Hokkaido, and good quality wool is sought after forhand-made fabrics. Even though there are relatively few sheep in Hokkaido,
they contribute significantly to tourism as popular sightseeing attractions.
6. Horses
Hokkaido is the center of racehorses with 9,838 “Thoroughbreds” (Fig. 5-17),
accounting over 90% of the total horses in Japan. There were 1,109 horse farmsin 2006. Due to the recession in Japan and increase of importation etc., thenumber of horses raised in Hokkaido has been declining since 1991.
There is also a native horse in Hokkaido, “Hokkaido-Washuba” (Fig. 5-18).
It is dubbed “Dosanko”, which means a person born in Hokkaido. They are smallin size and were introduced into Hokkaido from the main land of Japan about
200 or 300 years ago. They are kept outdoors all year round and used aspackhorses. Their population was 1,468 in 2006, accounting about 75% of thetotal number of all Japanese native horses (8 breeds). Since 1950, the Shizunai
Livestock Farm of FSC has about 80 horses of this breed, including about 30
mature mares, to maintain bloodline. Now, new usages of Hokkaido nativehorses are being considered, including endurance, trekking and horse riding byhandicapped persons etc.

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Fig. 5-14. White Leghorn.

Fig. 5-15. Rhode Island Red.

Fig. 5-16. Suffolk.

Fig. 5-18. Hokkaido Native Horse(Hokkaido-Washuba: “Dosanko”).

Fig. 5-17. Thoroughbred.

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