FARMING IN JAPAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22779, 15 January 1936, Page 13

FARMING IN JAPAN

COUNTRY NOT SUITABLE FOR SHEEP CORRIEDALES POPULAR. Sheep farming ig an industry which is not likely to progress to any very appreciable degree in Japan, in the opinion of Mr Y. Nakano, a director of the Yoshio Orient Opening (Development) Company which carries on business as stock and station agents. Mr Nakano arrived at Wellington on the Sydney Maru, and intends to spend two years at Massey Agricultural College, where he will make a study of sheep farming. He has been sent to New Zealand by his firm for the purpose of studying sheep farming conditions in this Dominion. The company he represented was the first to introduce sheep of the Corriedale breed into Japan, and had been very largely responsible for popularising them. Mr Nakano stated in an interview. It was only in recent years that the importation of sheep had been undertaken by Japanese farmers. To-day there were 30,000 Qorriedales in the country, and only about 500 of other breeds. A large number of animals had been imported from Australia, but Japanese buyers had also secured fine representatives of the Corriedale breed from New Zealand. Only last year 2400 Australian sheep were imported into Japan. It had been found that the Corriedale breed was better suited to withstand the rjgid conditions which animals had to encounter in Japan. The winters were too cold, and in the summers too much rain fell. Largely beca'use of this, Mr Nakano felt that sheep farming could not meet with the same measure of success in Japan os it had in other countries. Questioned with regard to the type of land utilised for sheep farming in his native country, he considered it to be somewhat similar to that grazed by sheep in New Zealand, but there was a marked difference in the climate. * A native grass formed the pasture on which sheep were fed. This was fairly coarse in texture, and, in consequence, it was by no means uncommon for sheep to injure their tongues. As a result of the heavy rainfall footrot wag prevalent, and for this the Japanese farmers employed bluestono as a remedy. Lung disease and pulpy-kid-ney were also widely in evidence, while some trouble was also caused by stomach paralysis.

As the wodsl of Japanese-grown sheep wag really too tender for use, the animals were chiefly reared for their carcass. Lambs reared in Japan were not strong, and because of that the farmers did not go in for intensive breeding. Although the Corriedale breed had to some decree been popularised, one could not say that sheep farming as yet had been firmly established in Japan. He did not consider the prospects particularly good because of the conditions which had to be encountered. Not only had they climatic conditions and pastures to contend with, but land space also presented a problem. There was a very large population in a small country, so that there was not a freat deal of land available for sheep arming of an extensive character. The Japanese did not consume nearly as much milk as New Zealanders, added Mr Nakano. There were comparatively few cows in his native country, but the Holstein-Friesiaft was the breed reared. Much green tea was consumed, and. in view of that, there was not a great demand for milk. Butter was imported from America and Australia, but as the supply was insufficient to cope with the demand, he believed that there was a good Opportunity for New Zealand to establish its product in the Japanese market. Australian and Dutch cheese reached Japan, but be did uot think there was any real opportunity of this Dominion opening up a market there, as the Japanese residing in country districts did not appreciate cheese.