Japanese Cattle Farm Numbers in Decline

JAPAN - The Japanese beef cattle herd decline slightly in 2010, while average beef cattle numbers per farm increased due to a reduction in the number of farming households.
calendar icon 22 July 2010
clock icon 1 minute read
Meat & Livestock Australia

According to data released by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, there were 2.89 million head of beef cattle as of 1 February 2010, down one per cent from last year, analysts at Meat and Livestock Australia said.

Kyushu (southern island of Japan) remained the largest region for beef cattle in Japan at 1.06 million head (mostly Japanese black Wagyu), followed by Hokkaido (northern island of Japan) at 0.54 million head (combination of wagyu, F1 and dairy beef cattle).

Farm numbers continued to decline, largely due to the aging farming population and the industry consolidation.

As a result, 74,400 farms (down four per cent year-on-year) had an average 39 animals/farm in 2010 (one animal more than the previous year).

In reality, over 52 per cent of the total herd was fed by larger beef cattle operations, with more than 200 animals - only three per cent of total farms.

The figures were taken prior to the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Japan (April 2010).

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