Technical Notes

TECHNICAL NOTES Milk Utilization in Japan It might be of interest to show how the quality of cow's milk in J a p a n has changed since World War II. At the war's end, the country was in great need of food. It was even necessary to use some of the cattle feed for human consumption. For example, soyabeans, sweet potatoes including the leaves and runners, bran, and wild grass were commonly used for human food, resulting in a shortage for animal use. People, as well as animals, suffered from poor nutrition. Animals were slaughtered and decreased in numbers. However, with the coming of the occupation forces, rice, wheat flour, dried skimmilk, butter, soya-beans, coconut, and soya-bean flour, were

cow's milk, but now it has 240,500 kg. The occupation forces imported and distributed miik produets, resulting in a greater liking for nfilk on the part of the Japanese people. The country is very grateful to the occupation forces for bringing this about. The results of a study made in 1949 are given in Table 1, and results of a more recent investigation made in the Tohoku region are given in Table 2. These data show that cow's milk in J a p a n is lower in milk solids-not-fat than the milk of other countries. This is probably due to the deficiency in nutrition of the cows, especially protein. Most cows in J a p a n are Holsteins, but lately some Jersey animals have been imported. A

TABLE 1 Composition of raw milk in Japan (19d9)

Mi~imuln Maximum Average

Specific gravity

Water

Fat

Protein

Lactose

Ash

S..~.F.

1.0273 1.0326 1.0300

(%) 88.06 89.60 88.93

(%) 2.70 3.52 3.10

(%) 2.40 3.28 2.88

(%) 4.03 4.80 4.35

(%) 0.50 0.76 0.68

(%) 7.25 8.68 7.94

imported so that the people could obtain the minimum food needed. As a result, nmre feed for animals was available, and fewer cattle had to be slaughtered. This, together with the importation of some cattle, raised the total number. Furthermore, those which formerly could not be bred because of nutritional deficiency recovered their health and were able to reproduee.

Because of the shortage that existed at the

study made of the quality of the Jersey milk for a period of 8 months showed it to be lower in solids than that of the milk from the same breed in other countries. It is thought that through better feeding practices the solids content of the milk produced by Japanese cows will increase. J a p a n lost about half its territory as the result of war and consequently is greatly in want of food. An attempt is being made to bring

TABLE 2 Composition of raw milk in Japan (1953)

~finimum Maximum Average

Specific gravity

Water

Fat

Protein

Lactose

Ash

S.N.F.

1.0292 1.0322 1.0307

(%) 88.45 89.60 88.97

(%) 2.93 3.70 3.25

(%) 2.61 3.12 2.88

(%) 4.05 4.50 4.28

(%) 0.50 0.71 0.61

(%) 7.39 8.10 7.77

close of the war, the use of milk and milk products was limited to infants and invalids. But the supply increased gradually and by 1950 dairy products were removed from control. To date, the number of cows in J a p a n has increased to 350,000, which is about twice the number there were at the end of the war. The amouut of milk production has iucreased to more than that before the war and consumption has increased. Tokyo metropolis at the close of the war had a daily supply of only 390 kg. of 22.1

under cultivation waste lands which previously have not been utilized and to improve grassland and pasture. I t is hoped to increase food production, especially the supply o~ protein, by increased and improved dairying, and eventually to make the country self-supporting. The continued assistance of the United States in bringing about an improved dairying in J a p a n will be appreciated by her people. TAKEO ~AKANISHI Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan