Japanese Shorthorn
FAO (2007): not at risk | |
| Other names | Japanese: 日本短角種 Nihon Tankaku Washu |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Distribution | northern Honshu Hokkaido |
| Use | meat |
| Traits | |
| Coat | red, roan, or red-pied[1] |
| Horn status | horned in both sexes |
The Japanese Shorthorn (
Devon breeds.[1]
History
Cattle were brought to Japan from China at the same time as the
draught animals, in agriculture, forestry, mining and for transport, and as a source of fertiliser. Milk consumption was unknown, and – for cultural and religious reasons – meat was not eaten. Cattle were highly prized and valuable, too expensive for a poor farmer to buy.[3]
: 2
Japan was effectively isolated from the rest of the world from 1635 until 1854; there was no possibility of intromission of foreign genes to the cattle population during this time. Between 1868, the year of the Meiji Restoration, and 1887, some 2600 foreign cattle were imported. At first there was little interest in
cross-breeding these with native stock, but from about 1900 it became widespread. It ceased abruptly in 1910, when it was realised that, while the cross-breeds might be larger and have better dairy qualities, their working capacity and meat quality was lower. From 1919, the various heterogeneous regional populations that resulted from this brief period of cross-breeding were registered and selected as "Improved Japanese Cattle". Four separate strains were characterised, based mainly on which type of foreign cattle had most influenced the hybrids, and were recognised as breeds in 1944. These were the four wagyu breeds, the Japanese Shorthorn, the Japanese Black, the Japanese Brown and the Japanese Polled.[3]
: 8
The Japanese Shorthorn developed in the northernmost part of
Devon, also British breeds.[3]: 8 The Japanese Shorthorn is distributed in northern Honshu, and also in Hokkaido.[1]
It was listed by the
FAO as "not at risk" in 2007.[5]: 71 In 2008 the total population was reported to be about 4500.[1] The Japanese Shorthorn constitutes about 1.2% of the beef cattle herd of Japan.[6]
: 17
Characteristics
The coat of the Japanese Shorthorn may be red, roan, or red-pied; both sexes are horned.[1]
Use
The Japanese Shorthorn is raised only for beef. The meat has less marbling than that of the Japanese Black, and so commands a lower market price.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e Breed data sheet: Japanese Shorthorn/Japan. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed January 2017.
- ^ Breeds reported by Japan: Cattle. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed January 2017.
- ^ a b c d Kiyoshi Namikawa (2016 [1992]). Breeding history of Japanese beef cattle and preservation of genetic resources as economic farm animals. Kyoto: Wagyu Registry Association. Accessed January 2017.
- ISBN 9781780647944.
- ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed January 2017.
- ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed January 2017.
- ^ T. Muramoto, M. Higashiyama, T. Kondo (2005). Effect of pasture finishing on beef quality of Japanese shorthorn steers. Asian-Australian Journal of Animal Science 18: 420-426.