Interviewee: Mr. Kitai
Asahikawa Municipal Farm
Altitude: 280m
Area: 718 hectares (274ha for grazing, 444ha for hay production)
Number of cattle: 46
Number of cows with Ushimiru collars: 43
Years of use: 3rd year (as of June 19, 2025)
Grazing style: Day and night grazing
Number of staff: 3
Number of gateways installed: 1 (powered by solar panels)
— How did you manage the cattle during grazing before?
Basically, it's the same as now. Every morning we ride a buggy to check the number of cows and visually confirm if any are in heat or if there are any sick or injured animals.
Since introducing Ushimiru, we first check the app to roughly identify where the cows are. Depending on the season, this saves us about 5 to 15 minutes when searching.
Even if a cow is sick or has a broken leg and gets separated, Ushimiru makes it easy to find. In the past, we once spent 4 hours searching without success, only to find the cow hidden in the grass later in the afternoon. If we'd had Ushimiru then, we could’ve found it immediately.
More than reducing routine work time, the big benefit is being able to respond quickly when trouble occurs.
— In what situations do you usually use Ushimiru?
First thing in the morning, we check the Ushimiru app to make sure no cows have escaped. Even if a cow does get out, as long as it's within signal range, we can see where it has gone at a glance. Sometimes the GPS position may shift slightly, but you can still understand the general location and check history, which makes searching easier.
— Did you get used to using it right away? What were your initial impressions?
Attaching the collar isn’t difficult at all. There’s a mark on the front of the GPS so you know which side is forward. Anyone accustomed to handling cows will have no issues.
If it were a leg-mounted device, cows tend to resist and staff might get injured. Even staff not yet familiar with cows can easily attach the collars.
— What do you like most about using Ushimiru?
The biggest advantage is being able to locate the cows using GPS.
— Can you share an episode when you found it especially useful?
It’s most helpful when searching for escaped cows. Before, we had to rely on footprints and other traces, starting from the fence and tracking from there.
Depending on how many escaped, it could take over an hour to find even one or two cows. But even outside the fence, you can locate them with Ushimiru. The last known position also helps you predict where they might have gone.
— How has patrol and inspection work changed?
We’re probably saving 30 minutes to an hour per day. That adds up significantly in labor costs.
More importantly, we are entrusted with valuable cows from local farmers, so being able to reduce the mental burden is a huge plus. Just confirming that the cows are in their designated area in the morning brings peace of mind, and it's easier to plan our day after confirming the herd size in the pasture.
— Have there been times when you felt glad to have Ushimiru?
Yes, especially for escaped cows or detecting sick animals that are lying in dense brush or tall grass—Ushimiru is really helpful.
We used to keep over 400 cows at one point, and I often think how much more convenient it would’ve been if we’d had Ushimiru back then.
