Soil microbial diversity and activity value analysis demonstrating the correctness of dairy farming that is "friendly to both people and cows"

Hokkaido Mr. Takeshi Uno

At the time of interview 2013

Takeshi Uno, who has been farming for seven years, is working on intensive grazing in Teshio Town, northern Hokkaido.
We recorded an amazing test result of 197 soil microbial diversity and activity in the soil of the land that was used for both grass gathering and grazing.
Mr. Uno is modest, saying, "I've only practiced dairy farming that is kind to both people and cows."

Q. Please tell us how you started intensive grazing and your efforts.

When I was a university student, the teacher in my lab told me about intensive grazing in New Zealand.Intensive grazing is a method of effectively feeding cows with grazing grass and leading to high milk production.I've always wanted cows to eat green grass, so I was very interested in it.
In intensive grazing, human beings are not involved except for milking, and cows are basically allowed to do what cows can do.Intensive grazing is a dairy farming method that benefits both cows and humans, as it allows cows to live longer and healthier lives, and humans have more time for themselves.
Here in Teshio Town, there are many barns, and about 1% of all farms are grazing.
My farm divides the pasture every half day.The shorter the grass, the more nutritious it is, so I manage it so that it doesn't grow too much.I would like to continue with only self-supplied feed, but currently I am also giving mixed feed, and the milk yield is about 7000 kg per cow.

A plate that analyzes Mr. Uno's pasture soil.The soil microbial diversity/activity value is a very high value of 1,977,594.

Q. Where did you learn about soil microbial diversity and activity value analysis?

calves born on pasture

I attend the "Glass Farming School" sponsored by Sochi Agricultural 21 twice a year, in summer and winter.The lecturer, Dr. Kazunari Yokoyama of the Central Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, taught us about analysis.As a test, I sampled and inspected only one soil that was used for grass collection and grazing.

Q. How did you feel about the analysis results?

To be honest, I was surprised when Naomi Sakuramoto, president of DGC Technology Co., Ltd., told me that the soil had a soil microbial diversity and activity value of 197 million and a deviation value of 80 or more.For seven years since I started farming, I have only added compost every other year, and I have not added any chemical fertilizers to the farmland.However, before the analysis test, I thought, "Isn't it okay if I get a value of about 7 million?"The soil on my ranch also decomposes feces very quickly, so I suspect that this is also related to the high values.
I paid for it myself, but it gave me confidence in what I was doing, so I think it was well worth it.

muddy meadow after rain

Q. How do you plan to use the activation value in the future?

I want to be able to get better results.
I am confident in my grass management and aim to create pastures where cows can eat grass evenly.I will ask you to test again after a while.By continuously inspecting, I would like to use the activation value as one of the indicators of what I have done.