On the possibility of WAGYU (Japanese beef cattle) production expansion in Hokkaido

最近，北海道的和牛（日本肉牛）产量正在增加。但它在牛肉总产量中的份额并不高。本研究的目的是明确和牛在北海道的扩张可能性。研究方法：在牛肉贸易自由化的背景下，和牛与进口牛肉的竞争力下降。对和牛的需求正在增加。如果和牛在北海道的生产成本（包括运输成本）比在Hosyu的生产成本更高，那么和牛在北海道扩大生产的可能性将非常大。1990年，我们对东北地区（岩手县）的生产成本进行了研究，因为该地区的牛肉质量与北海道的牛肉质量具有竞争力。为了明确和牛的未来需求，我们还研究了包括另一种牛肉在内的和牛在日本整体的需求。第二年，我们得到了北海道（主要是十胜区）和牛生产成本的数据。去年，在十胜区也进行了额外的研究工作。最后，对北海道和牛生产的比较优势进行了研究。一个是犊牛生产，另一个是育肥过程。从成本的角度来看，北海道在犊牛生产上具有比较优势。在育肥方面，农民对技术要求很高，短期内难以掌握。对于北海道来说，要在短时间内赶上像科比县这样的先进地区似乎很困难。据估计，在不久的将来，北海道的小牛产量将迅速增加。

OBJECTS : Recently, the WAGYU (Japanese beef cattle) production in Hokkaido is increasing. But its share to total beef production is not so high. The object of this research work is to make clear the possibility of expansion of WAGYU in Hokkaido.METHODS OF RESEARCH WORKS : Under the trade liberalization of beef, it is commonly said that WAGYU is not so competitive with imported beef. The demand for WAGYU is increasing. If the production cost of WAGYU in Hokkaido including transportation cost is chieper than that in Hosyu, the possibility of production expansion of WAGYU in Hokkaido will be hopefull. In 1990, we made research on the production costs in Thohoku district (Iwate prefecture) because the quality of beef in this area is competitive with that in Hokkaido. To make clear the future demand for WAGYU, we also made research on the demand of WAGYU including another beef on Japan as a whole. In the second year, we get the data on WAGYU production cost in Hokkaido (mainly in Tokachi district). In the last year, additional research works were done also in Tokachi district. Finally, we investigated the comparative advantage of WAGYU production in Hokkaido.MAIN RESULTS : The WAGYU production is divided into two procesess. One is calf production and the other is fattening process. From the view point of cost, it was made clear that in the calf production, Hokkaido has the comparative advantage. In the fattening, farmers need high level of technology which is difficult to learn in short period. For Hokkaido it seems difficult to catch up with advanced districts like Kobe Prefecture in short period. It is estimated in the near future the calf production in Hokkaido will increase rapidly.