HAGIYA Koichi Associate Professor

ThemeStudies on genetic improvement of dairy cattle by statistical genetic approach

My DreamDevelop human resources who can contribute to the growth of dairy farming

Belongs

Research Department/Department of Life and Food Sciences/Division of Animal Production/Section of Life Science
Field Livestock breeding, Population genetics
Keyword Dairy cattle, Dairy, Genetic improvement

Introduction

Most of the milk in Japan comes from the Holstein breed. Holstein cows have had their milk production increased through genetic improvement. Their reproduction involves artificial insemination, and it's not unusual for genetically superior bulls produce thousands of heifer. Although it's the work of cows to produce milk, the genetic improvement focuses on bulls. The important things are to investigate genetic ability based on individual relationships and genome information so as to find excellent bulls and to digitize their genetic characteristics and convey the correct data to producers. Statistical animal breeding has enabled the development of various methods for analyzing genetic information on individual milk yields, milk constituents, longevity, durability, female fertility, temperament (obedience or nervousness), milking speed, conformation (type) traits, the genetic ability of bulls that are utilized for artificial insemination. The members of our lab have been engaged in much of this research and development. We're trying to do the following: develop a method of breeding cows that can stay healthy even under summer heat stress, produce cows that are suitable for various housing system, such as tie stall, free stall and grazing. Our mission is to develop methods for improving the genetic ability of dairy cows such that they're adapted to the Japanese feeding environment, towards the development of the domestic dairy industry.

Holstein cow

List of current research topics

  • Application of genetic technology to enhance productivity of holstein
  • Studies on improvement of genetic evaluation technology of dairy cattle
  • Development of technology for genetically improving heat stress tolerance of dairy cattle
  • Studies to spread useful information for dairy farmers by investigating appropriate parturition interval and physical features of grazing dairy cattle
Related industries Animal husbandry
Affiliated academic society Japanese Society of Animal Science, Hokkaido Animal Science and Agriculture Society, American Dairy Science Association
Academic degree D. Agr.
Room addressGeneral Research Building 1
Mail address hagiya atmark obihiro.ac.jp