Livestock Farm Management
(Applying experience gained in an agricultural cooperative)

Mrs. Sonomi Kinoshita is leading a very active life as a livestock farmer, together with her family, in Omihachiman city, Shiga prefecture.

Over time, Mrs. Kinoshita has learned a number of skills that she applies in managing the farm. In school, she studied bookkeeping and trade, striving to become a certified tax accountant. Then, before marrying, she worked in the finance section of an agricultural cooperative, and the experience that she gained at the cooperative has also proven to be helpful in her analysis and management of the Kinoshita Farm.

The Kinoshita Farm specializes in “Omi” beef. Omi is renowned as one of the three famous types of beef in Japan, together with Kobe beef and Matsuzaka beef. It is said that the fibers in the meat are tender, and the fat is marbled finely, so the meat melts in your mouth. That helps to explain its popularity.

The Kinoshita Farm is now managing 200 head of cattle, including 69 “mother” cows. The farm’s approach is to breed cattle naturally, and to raise them naturally. For example, they never use artificial hormones to promote the growth of a calf in its mother’s womb. That said, they do exert a great effort in growing their calves. For instance, their calves are fed with their mothers’ milk.

The Kinoshita Farm is always full of laughter. Energetic Sonomi is supported by her husband, Yukio, and by their two daughters, who also help on the farm right after they return from school. Since they were babies, the daughters have seen the hard work of their parents first hand. When their father Yukio was hospitalized, the mother and two daughters united and persevered through the hardship. All of these experiences have helped to build close bonds within the family.

With the prices of fuel, fertilizers, and feed still very high, the Kinoshitas are not optimistic about their farming business. However, they enthusiastically maintain a goal of keeping 100 mother cows, and selling 200 head of cattle, in future years.