Dairy Farms In Japan Research Articles

Evaluating internalization of multifunctionality by farm diversification: Evidence from educational dairy farms in Japan

Farm diversification by farmers’ open-door policy generates opportunities for farmers to internalize externalities of multifunctionality. Although the educational function of agriculture is an example of such an open-door policy and is attracting growing attention, this function has been little explored. To promote farm diversification in this direction, this paper examined how and to what degree farmers internalize externalities of multifunctionality by focusing on the educational function provided by dairy farming, i.e., farming experience services, in Japan. The main findings were as follows. First, we can say that the educational function is determined by ordinary technical jointness as well as institutional jointness, which is represented by food culture and the agrarian heritage. Both the technical and institutional jointness enhanced the externality. Because of these two working factors, there is a U-shaped relationship between farm diversification and provision of farming experience services. Second, however, an empirical evaluation indicated that farmers only partially internalize educational externalities by treating them as supplementary services combined with processed milk products. Therefore, appropriate integrated management of these newly emerging educational services to become a viable market should be fully addressed in the future, especially for family farms.

Risk factors associated with within-herd transmission of bovine leukemia virus on dairy farms in Japan

BackgroundAlthough several attempts have been made to control enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) at the local level, a nationwide control program has not been implemented in Japan, except for passive surveillance. Effective control of EBL requires that the transmission routes of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection should be identified and intercepted based on scientific evidence. In this cross-sectional study, we examined the risk factors associated with within-herd transmission of BLV on infected dairy farms in Japan. Blood samples taken from 30 randomly selected adult cows at each of 139 dairy farms were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Information on herd management was collected using a structured questionnaire.ResultsInfected farms were defined as those with more than one ELISA-positive animal and accounted for 110 (79.1%) of the 139 farms in the study. Completed questionnaires obtained from 90 of these 110 farms were used for statistical analysis. Seroprevalence, which was defined as the proportions of animals that tested positive out of all animals tested on the farm, was 17.1%, 48.1%, and 68.5% for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles, respectively. A mixed logistic regression analysis implicated a loose housing system, dehorning, and a large number of horseflies in summer as risk factors (coefficient = 0.71, 1.11, and 0.82; p = 0.03, < 0.01, and 0.01, respectively) and feeding of colostrum to newborn calves from their dams as a protective factor (coefficient = -1.11, p = 0.03) against within-farm transmission of BLV on infected farms.ConclusionControl of EBL in infected dairy farms in Japan will be improved by focusing particularly on these risk and protective factors.

Epidemiological Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Cows and the Environment of a Dairy Farm in Japan

A case of Staphylococcus aureus intramammary infection (IMI) on a Japanese dairy farm was monitored for 9 months. S. aureus isolates from cows and environmental samples consisted of specific strains with sequence types 352 and 705, as determined by multilocus sequence typing. Clonal strains of these sequence types are isolated from cows worldwide, indicating that they are adapted to the bovine environment. These results explain why many IMI cases are persistent and lead to subclinical mastitis. The strain isolated from milk was identical to those isolated from the cows' bodies and cows carrying S. aureus, milking units, personnel, heifers and cats in the dairy barn. These locations and factors should be emphasized as sources and routes of strains causing IMI.

Epidemiologic Indicators Associated with Within-farm Spread of Johne's Disease in Dairy Farms in Japan

Epidemiologic indicators associated with within-farm infection of Johne's disease in dairy farms in Japan were determined through a nationwide investigation of infected farms. We assumed that subsequent detection of the disease within one year after the first detection could represent the occurrence of within-farm spread occurring before the first detection. Of 594 infected farms, 158 farms (27%) had at least one additional detection. Logistic regression analysis using epidemiologic information obtained from infected farms at the time of the first detection revealed three epidemiologic indicators associated with subsequent detection. Farms at which the first cases included cattle with clinical signs were 3.8 (95% confidence interval: 2.2, 6.8) times more likely to have additional detections than those with cattle without clinical signs. Similarly, farms where two or more cattle were detected at the time of first detection and where cattle were held in a loose housing system were 2.8 (95% CI: 1.8, 4.5) and 2.0 (95% CI: 1.1, 3.6) times more likely to have additional detections than those where only one animal was detected and a tied-up housing system was used, respectively. These epidemiologic indicators are likely important determinants in the selection of farms requiring more intensive on-farm control measures.

How to Improve Reproductive Efficacy from Now in Japan? Find out the Factors of Late Lactation to Predict Postpartum Reproductive Diseases

Reproductive efficiency and performance in dairy cattle has been declining over the last 20 years in Japan. Recently, this has resulted in serious problems in dairy herds. There have been changes in the animals themselves and in the animal's environment, e.g. the genetic potential for milk yield has improved, the herd size of dairy farms has been expanding, the housing system of dairy cattle has been changing from tie stall to free stall, and total mixed ratio (TMR) feeding systems have become widespread. It is not clear whether the animals have adapted adequately to these environmental changes. Up till now, reproductive management has been undertaken by monitoring animal performance and/or hormonal treatments, and this has resulted in acceptable reproductive performance. However, conception and pregnancy rates have continued to decline, and the calving to calving interval has continued to extend. Consequently, the average parity and the average age at culling in dairy cattle have been declining. The most common causes of culling in dairy cattle are reproductive disorders in Japan. Therefore, in future, prevention of reproductive disorders will be required for both reproductive efficiency and animal welfare. During late pregnancy and the transition from the pregnant, non-lactating state to the non-pregnant, lactating state, dramatic changes are occurring in the dam including an increase in the fetal-placental mass and calving. Thus, the demand for energy, protein and minerals by the conceptus increases, the space within the abdominal cavity and the rumen capacity decreases due to the increased volume of the conceptus, the local immunological relationship between the fetal and maternal placenta dramatically changes, and physiological homeostasis is activated to adapt to these changes. If cattle can't maintain homeostasis before calving, the incidence of reproductive diseases will be greatly increased. We have been examining reproductive, nutritional and immunological factors to predict the occurrence of reproductive disorders as early as possible and to develop strategies to prevent them. It is unlikely that all dairy farms in Japan will be able to improve reproductive performance with general advice, due to the wide variation in feeding systems and management in Japan. Therefore, specific advice needs to be tailored to each herd, based on management systems employed within each herd. We have proposed that it is important to identify common risk factors across herds, to use these factors as an index for disease control and reproductive management and finally to demonstrate the relationship between these factors and fundamental improvement of the reproductive efficiency. We propose this approach with the aim of providing a breakthrough in improving reproductive performance in dairy cattle in Japan. The focus of this review will be that such an approach is important for improvement of the reproductive efficiency in Japanese dairy cows.

A clinical trial to evaluate the effects of flumethrin or ivermectin treatment on hemoparasites, gastrointestinal parasites, conception and daily weight gain in a dairy farm in Japan

A clinical trial was performed to compare the effects of flumethrin and ivermectin treatments of grazing heifers at one farm in central Japan. 64 heifers were randomly allocated into two groups. Flumethrin (1 mg/kg pour on) was applied approximately once every 3 weeks to heifers in one group and heifers in the second group were injected approximately once every month with ivermectin (200 μg/kg; id). Between groups, no significant differences were detected in the proportions of animals that showed parasitemia of Theileria sergenti and conception risks. Significantly lower average log-transformed nematode-egg counts and higher average daily weight gain were observed in the ivermectin-treated group. Animals with higher body weight at the start of grazing and lower log-transformed total nematode-egg and coccidia-oocyst counts had higher odds of conceiving. Animals with ivermectin treatment, lower body weight at the start of grazing and lower log-transformed coccidia-oocyst count had higher daily weight gain. Ivermectin may be more useful in this farm because of the higher productivity for cattle and lower cost for its usage.

Isolation of serotype G8, P6[1] bovine rotavirus from adult cattle with diarrhea.

Two electrophoretically identical strains of group A rotavirus were isolated from diarrheic cows aged 3, 4, and 7 years on a dairy farm in Japan. They had a rare serotype combination of G8 and P6[1] and were shown by RNA-RNA hybridization to be most closely related to bovine strain NCDV-Lincoln (G6P6[1]).

Extent and Sources of Differences in Unit Cost between Individual Firms: A Nonparametric Approach to Measuring Cost Efficiency for Dairy Farms in Japan

Extent and Sources of Differences in Unit Cost between Individual Firms: A Nonparametric Approach to Measuring Cost Efficiency for Dairy Farms in Japan

Characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from peracute, acute and chronic bovine mastitis.

Fifty-eight Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bovine mastitic milk at 27 dairy farms in Japan during the period from November 1988 to May 1989 were examined for their productivity of virulence associated factors. The positive rates of the total isolates for various virulence factors were as follows: toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1, 27.6%), staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs, 34.5%), alpha-haemolysin (74.1%), beta-haemolysin (65.5%), delta-haemolysin (12.1%), DNase (100%), egg-yolk factor (25.9%), clumping factor (70.7%) and protein A (58.6%). All of S. aureus isolates from peracute mastitis produced TSST-1, SEC, alpha-haemolysin and beta-haemolysin. While none of clumping factor and protein A were detected among peracute isolates, these factors were produced at a relatively high frequency by isolates from chronic mastitis. In coagulase typing, the most predominant type was VI (36.2%), and types IV, V and VIII were not observed. TSST-1 positive isolates showed interesting characteristics which all of the isolates produce both SEC and coagulase type VI but lack egg-yolk factor, clumping factor and protein A except for one isolate. We could infer that TSST-1 and SEC contribute to bovine mastitis, especially to peracute mastitis from the present study.

International Comparison of the Extent and Sources of Difference in Nominal Unit Cost: The Case of Dairy Farms in Japan and the United Kingdom

International Comparison of the Extent and Sources of Difference in Nominal Unit Cost: The Case of Dairy Farms in Japan and the United Kingdom

Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from Raw Milk and Its Environment at Dairy Farms in Japan

The incidence of Listeria monocytogenes contamination in raw milk from farm bulk tanks and silage was investigated monthly at 20 dairy farms in Aomori prefecture, Japan, from January to July in 1989. Listeria sp. was isolated from one sample (5%) of raw milk collected in May, but L. monocytogenes was not isolated from raw milk. L. monocytogenes was isolated from two samples of silage (10%) collected in June. Silage, cow feces, sawdust bedding, dust and soil in these farms were tested for listerias, and we confirmed listerias contamination of the environment in the dairy farms.

Identification of staphylococci from bovine mastitis and an examination of their susceptibility to antibiotics and .BETA.-lactamase production.

Strains of Staphylococcus species isolated from bovine mastitic milk at 66 dairy farms in Japan during the period from November 1988 to May 1989 were identified, and examined for their drug susceptibility and beta-lactamase production in order to clarify an epidemiological aspect of bovine mastitis caused by staphylococci. The results of bacteriological identification showed that the most predominant species was S. xylosus. Other major species isolated were S. aureus, S. sciuri and S. hyicus. Thirty-eight (71.7%) isolates of S. xylosus, 21 (45.7%) of S. aureus and 5 (71.4%) of S. epidermidis were positive for beta-lactamase production. Most of the beta-lactamase-producers of S. aureus were classified as high producers, although all of the beta-lactamase-positive S. xylosus isolates remained to be low producers. All isolates of S. aureus were sensitive to methicillin and cloxacillin at 6.25 micrograms/ml and 1.56 micrograms/ml, respectively, and none of methicillin-resistant S. aureus were detected. Isolates of other species were considered to be susceptible to 6 beta-lactams, in contrast to human isolates, but antibacterial activities of penicillin G and ampicillin were affected more strongly by beta-lactamase than those of methicillin, cloxacillin, cefazolin and cefoperazone.

Antibiotic-resistant coliforms in the waste of piggeries and dairy farms.

To examine for incidence of coliforms and drug-resistant Escherichia coli, a total of 22 swine and 19 bovine waste samples were collected from eight piggeries and nine dairy farms in Japan in 1976 and 1977. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended solid (SS), pH values, and the number of coliforms with or without antibiotic resistance were measured to analyze for the correlation function. Except the correlation between the coliform count and the pH value of bovine urine storage samples, no significant correlation was observed. Coliforms in bovine urine storage samples of alkalinity were fewer than other samples. It was shown that the waste treatment on a piggery (farm E) was effective in decreasing COD and coliforms in the waste. A total of 449 (97%) of 465 E. coli strains isolated from swine samples and 180 (78%) of 230 strains from bovine samples were resistant to at least one of the followings ; ampicillin, furatrizine, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, streptomycin(Sm), sulfonamide(Su) and tetracycline(Tc). Resistance to Tc, Sm and Su was common in E.coli strains from swine and bovine samples but incidence of resistant strains from swine samples was generally higher than that from bovine samples. The drug resistance patterns (47 patterns) of swine E. coli strains were more complicated than those (24 patterns) of bovine strains. Conjugative R plasmids were detected in swine (56%) and bovine samples (33%). Thirteen (22%)thermosensitive R plasmids were found only in swine samples. Animal waste heavily contaminated with drug resistant coliforms can be a potential source of environmental pollution.

Recent Changes in the Farm-management of “Koiwai-ranch”, Iwate Prefecture

The Koiwai ranch, is on the mud-flow at the southern foot of Iwate Volcano. Since 1891, the ranch has supplied a number of milch cows to the farms in Tohoku, Kanto and Hokkaido, and its farm-management has been well known as one of the western style farms which are very few in Japan. Whole area of the farm is 2, 600 ha, containing 1, 800ha of the forest land.In 1954, 201 bulls and excellent cows of Holstein breed for artificial breeding, 133 sheep, 160 turkeys and 1, 400 hens were bred in this ranch, and 156 cows, 31 labour cattle and 75 sheep were rented to the surrounding farms. And also, several kinds of feed crops were grown on the cultivated land of about 286 ha, hay producing land became about 410 ha and pasture land for cows and sheep became 57 ha by 1960.From 1960 to 1963, the above states changed and in 1969, 193 bulls and cows of Holstein breed, 262 cows excluding 390 cows rented for milkig, 67 beef cattle and 222 sheep for grazing were kept in this farm. An area of 293 ha was used for hay-producing, 216 ha for pasture and 228 ha for hay-producing and grazing.These drastic changes of management of this ranch preceded the general changes of dairy farms in Japan.This change of the management is one of the measures to develop the real dairy farming in Japan, in the way as it is in Europe and America. However, there are very few farms in Japan that can make such a change following the example shown by Koiwai ranch.