Effects of feeding high volumes of milk replacer on reproductive performance and on concentrations of metabolites and hormones in blood of Japanese black heifer calves

Abstract

Production of Japanese black calves and cattle have declined in recent years, which has resulted in increased prices for the prized meat. Statistical data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF, 2020) and the Agriculture and Livestock Industries Corporation (ALIC, 2020) show that the numbers of Japanese black calves and breeding cattle in 2018 had declined by 67,000 and 57,000 compared to those in 2008, respectively. According to ALIC, the price of each Japanese black calf was 766,000 yen in 2018, whereas it was only 361,000 yen in 2008. This supply and demand problem may be further compounded by different rearing strategies.