KUCHIDA Keigo Professor

My DreamDevelopment of the beef taste evaluation system

ThemeDevelopment of an objective evaluation system of beef quality using image analysis and its application to improvement of breeding

Field

Livestock breeding, Meat quality evaluation

Keyword

Beef, Marbling, Lean meat, Image analysis, Genetic parameters

Instructable research topic for doctoral thesis

  • 十勝若牛®の格付形質、画像解析形質および官能試験における年次推移の調査
  • と畜月齢が黒毛和種、褐毛和種、交雑種およびホルスタイン種の枝肉成績に与える影響
  • オーストラリア産牛肉におけるiBCSを用いた客観的肉色評価法の検討
  • オーストラリアの赤身肉における画像解析によるマーブリングスコアの算出
  • 牛ロース芯における適応二値化処理を適用した画像解析によるBMS判定精度の改善
  • 黒毛和種における枝肉格付形質および画像解析形質に対する母方祖父の効果
  • 十勝若牛®の生産における投薬回数と枝肉形質との関連性の調査
  • 北海道池田町褐毛和種におけるオレイン酸と画像解析形質との関連性

Message

私の専門は家畜育種学なのですが、世間の方々からは枝肉横断面のカメラを作っている人と思われている節があります。カメラ作りはあくまで肉牛の改良のためなのですが、そのストーリーを理解し、共感してくださる方が研究室に来てくれると大変うれしいです。研究当初はこれほど高精細な枝肉横断面画像を撮影することができるようになるとは思っておりませんでしたが、技術の進歩とともに、肉眼を凌駕するレベルでの肉質評価ができるようになってきました。わが国の和牛の肉質レベルは世界で最も優れているとされています。また、ラッキーなことに、私の肉質評価技術も世界で評価されているようです。肉質の客観的評価技術を十勝から世界に発信し、普及させていくことを目指し、ともに活動してくださる方を募集しております。

Academic degree D.Agr.
Self introduction

It's been three decades since I started photographing meat. I've devoted myself to objectively analyzing the images for breed improvement. Feel free to contact me with any photography requests.

Room addressGeneral Research Building 1
Room numberE2202-1
Mail address kuchida atmark obihiro.ac.jp

Belongs

Research Department/Department of Life and Food Sciences/Division of Animal Production/Section of Life ScienceAgri-information technology Center /センター長

Introduction

Marbling is one of the most important traits determining the quality of Wagyu beef. Graders assess it by comparing the marbling on the carcass to Beef Marbling Standard (BMS) photos. I've devoted the past 30 years to studying computer image analysis of marbling, and I've developed and commercialized digital carcass cameras, including mirror-equipped models. Those models are used abroad as well as in Japan and have come to be seen as standard photographic apparatuses for beef marbling evaluation. I founded Meat Image Japan (MIJ), a general incorporated association, in 2013 to spread the beef quality evaluation technology I'd develop to the world. I also developed an instantaneous analysis system that can capture cross-sectional images suitable for analysis even in narrow spaces. I created MIJ Labo, a venture spinoff from the Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, in 2018 to step up the promotion of these technologies. A newly developed MIJ camera system was launched in the Australian market, paving the way for a new beef quality evaluation method that uses image analysis to gain global currency. I'm working to develop an apparatus that measures palatability traits for carcasses based on a combination of image analysis and spectroscopic analysis. My ultimate goal is to analyze large volumes of information using breeding techniques to enable the selection of prime seed bulls and the production of top-quality beef cattle.

Mirror-equipped camera and MIJ camera
Beef marbling standard

List of current research topics

  • Wagyu improvement project by comprehensive index using image analysis
  • Comprehensive studies by physicochemical analysis and cross sectional image analysis of carcasses to improve market competitiveness of Japan short horn species
  • Adaptability study on feeding management manual for beef cattle research
  • Study on high-resolution image feedback of Tokachi Wagyu
  • Analysis of carcass cross-sectional images of cattle carcasses and their breeding value evaluation
  • Objective evaluation method by image analysis of US Wagyu cattle
  • Study for development of lean meat evaluation device by spectroscopic analysis based on consumer preference
  • Study on meat quality evaluation by image analysis in Australia
Related industries Animal husbandry, Meat industry
Affiliated academic society Japanese Society of Animal Science, Society of Beef Cattle Science
Academic background 1987: Faculty of Agriculture, Tohoku University (Graduated)
1989: Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University (completed master's degree)
1992: Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University (completed doctoral degree)
1992: Engineer, Sanitary and hygiene research institute, Sendai City
1995: Research Fellow, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
2003: Associate Professor, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
2007-: Professor, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine