ARTICLES

The power of "pasturage" to produce "the best milk

2022.08.02

Teshio is a town in northern Hokkaido where dairy farming is thriving. There is "Uno Pasture," where 140 cows graze on a vast pasture of 230 hectares (about 50 times the size of Tokyo Dome).

Founded in 1945, Takeshi Uno is now the third president of Uno Farm, and since he started farming in 2005, he has been working hard on various initiatives to update the conventional concept of dairy farming in Japan.

宇野牧場_1

The New Zealand Dairy Farm that Changed the Consciousness of Japanese Farmers
I want to change the image of dairy farming
Healthy cows are born from a healthy diet
Highest quality milk" and "organic drink yogurt" produced from the highest quality milk
Trochette Uno" gaining popularity with its five flavors
Never-ending challenge, love for the local community

A New Zealand farm that has changed the way we think.

Although Mr. Uno now takes the lead in running the dairy farm, he had no intention of taking over the family business at first because he had seen his parents working busily as dairy farmers since he was a child. However, his awareness changed drastically when he entered Dairy Farming University and learned about dairy farming in New Zealand.

宇野牧場_2

The economy of New Zealand is supported by the export of livestock products, so they do not want to spend as much money as possible on raising cows. Therefore, instead of the Japanese style of raising cows in barns with various facilities, they are kept outdoors day and night and fed on grass that grows on the farm to raise healthy cows naturally.

I want to change the image of dairy farming

Mr. Uno was surprised when he experienced the rearing style at the dairy farm. Compared to Japanese cows that eat feed mixed with grains to increase milking volume, the milk from cows that eat only grass is clearly of better quality.

It is not only about quality. If pasturage can be introduced, cows no longer need long hours of care, and there is more leeway. Dairy farming is known as "3K work," and the image of dairy farmers was that they had to work early in the morning and without a day off, but we were convinced that we could dispel such a negative image.

宇野牧場_3

In 2005, after graduating from university, Mr. Uno decided to take over the family business. Gradually, he incorporated the methods he learned in New Zealand into Uno Farm.

Healthy cows come from a healthy diet

In order to produce good milk, it is necessary to pay attention to the cows' diet. At Uno Farm, we do not feed any grains, and except during the winter season, we feed only freshly grown young leaves, which are high in nutritional value.

My father became ill, which prompted us to switch to 100% grass fed cattle. When you are sick, it is important to eat nutritious food. We thought that good milk would also be good for his health."

宇野牧場_4

Milk nourished only with grass contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, other beneficial fatty acids, and vitamins. Mr. Uno plants five different types of grass to balance the nutritional needs of the cows and grows them on the power of the soil without the use of chemical fertilizers or other chemicals. The pasture is divided into sections that can be eaten by the cows in half a day, and they are moved to the next section every half a day to create an environment where they can always eat new young grass.

The highest quality milk" and "organic drink yogurt" are produced from the highest quality milk.

The milk produced in this way will be marketed in 2020 under the product name "Uno Ranch's best milk ever. The milk produced in this way will be marketed under the product name "Uno Ranch's best milk ever" in 2020. Uno Farm has obtained JAS organic certification for organic feed, organic livestock products, and organic processed foods.

宇野牧場_5

With its refreshing taste and soft, sweet aroma, it is attracting more and more fans of all ages.

The milk is processed into a variety of products, and "organic drink yogurt" is one of the most popular products.

宇野牧場_6

According to the government, 1ml of yogurt contains more than 10 million lactic acid bacteria, but Uno Farm's yogurt has been found to contain 520 million lactic acid bacteria as a result of their careful cultivation of cows, soil, and grass.

Trochette Uno" gains popularity with its five flavors

Another popular product is "Troquette Uno," a sweet developed in reference to the milk curd once common among dairy farmers.

宇野牧場_7

Milk Tofu is a taste that Uno-san has fond memories of eating as a child. Originally, it was made by coagulating the protein with the power of vinegar, but it inevitably left a distinctive sour taste. Therefore, the same nigari was used as in the case of tofu, but without sacrificing the freshly squeezed taste.

The five flavors available in the product lineup make it a great gift idea.

宇野牧場_8

Never-ending challenge, love for the local community to be preserved

Mr. Uno's challenge is not over yet. He is currently working on a prototype cheese using his prized milk with the help of artisans. He also hopes that by producing high quality milk and dairy products, the charm of Teshio Town itself will spread.

The increase in the number of farmers leaving the town will affect the survival of Teshio. It may be an exaggeration, but I would like to help the town grow and protect itself by spreading the appeal of dairy farming.

宇野牧場_9

With this in mind, he will continue to devote himself to raising cows. Mr. Uno's passion as a dairy farmer will continue to burn.

Writer Profile

Kyohei Yamashita, Magazine/Book Editor & Writer

While working as a program producer at a radio station, he began producing mini-comm magazines and writing for magazines. Later, he joined a publishing company as an editor and has worked on various articles mainly for town information magazines. His favorite things are cooking, mountain climbing, river fishing, and stone monuments in Sapporo. He lives in Minami-ku, Sapporo, and loves Minami-ku very much.