While the number of dairy farms has been declining nationwide in Japan, Hokkaido accounts for approximately 60% of both the total number of dairy cows and raw milk production, playing a central role in supporting the country's dairy industry. At the same time, however, dairy farming in Hokkaido faces increasingly complex and serious challenges, including labor shortages, growing burdens associated with grassland maintenance, declines in reproductive performance due to increased milk yields and a higher incidence of periparturient diseases. In addition, continued increases in the cost of imported feed have heightened the importance of stable production of high-quality homegrown forage and the effective recycling of livestock manure.
To address these challenges, the Department of Dairy Research conducts integrated research spanning forage production, milk production, and dairy products through collaboration among four research groups: the Feed Crop Breeding Group, the Feed Production and Utilization Group, the Dairy Feeding and Breeding Group, and the Dairy Management Group. Specifically, our research focuses on the development of forage grasses and silage maize varieties well suited to cold climates; the creation of labor-saving and advanced technologies for forage production and livestock management using image data and ICT; and studies on improving dairy cow health through the use of homegrown feed, as well as on the production of distinctive raw milk and dairy products. Through these interdisciplinary efforts, we aim to establish a sustainable and competitive dairy production system adapted to cold regions.
