Kitasato University, School of Veterinary Medicine, Field Science Center Yakumo Farm

Environmental Conservation-Oriented Livestock Research and Practice Farm

At Yakumo Farm, six breeds are raised for beef production, with a total herd size of 250 cattle, including 100 breeding cows (mother cows).

Since its establishment in 1976, the farm has produced 3,500 head of beef cattle under the philosophy of “raising cattle on grass.” Alongside this, trials for crossbreeds based on the Japanese Shorthorn breed are being conducted. Under the summer-mountain and winter-housing method of beef cattle management, this farm is the only one in Japan to practice beef production entirely on 100% domestically sourced feed.

Cattle raised primarily on pasture are marketed under the brand name “Kitasato Yakumo Beef,” for which a trademark has been registered. Additionally, the farm has been certified as an organic livestock production process manager and has obtained the “Organic Livestock JAS Certification.”

A Practice Farm for Resource-Circulating Livestock Production

Japan’s self-sufficiency rate for feed has dropped to 25%, with 75% of feed dependent on imports. Livestock waste cannot be returned to the feed-producing countries, meaning it must be processed domestically in Japan, despite the limited land available for waste recycling. Meanwhile, nutrient depletion in the soil of feed-exporting countries leads to a gradual decline in soil fertility each year.

With 370 hectares of land, Yakumo Farm emphasizes raising cattle on homegrown grass. Cattle waste is composted and spread on the pastures, fostering the growth of grass with this recycled compost and preserving the natural cycle. Since 1994, the farm has eliminated the use of imported feed grains, fully transitioning to a 100% domestically self-sufficient feed-based beef production system.