Interviewee: Mr. Yoshida
Nitta Farm
Altitude: 400m
Area: 300 hectares (divided into approximately 20 hectares per grazing section)
Number of cattle: 650
Number of cattle with Ushimiru collars: Approximately 500 (as of June 2025)
Grazing style: Day and night grazing
Number of staff: 9
Years of using Ushimiru: 5 years (as of June 2025)
Number of gateways installed: 3
— How did you manage the cattle during grazing before?
We used to search for the cattle by estimating their location in the pasture and visually checking their health condition.
— What made you decide to introduce Ushimiru?
We had previously used estrus detection devices that attach to the legs, which were mainly for use in barns. When using them for grazing, we were more interested in location information. That was the initial reason for introducing Ushimiru. Because it could monitor positions over a wide area like a pasture, we chose Ushimiru.
— In what situations do you usually use Ushimiru?
We use it after checking the grazing cattle's location information in the office each morning, to move directly to the target cow's location.
— Has there been any change in your work after introducing Ushimiru?
We still walk around the farm, but knowing the cow’s location in advance via GPS makes the patrols much less stressful. It also makes it easier to plan the rest of the work. Even in heavy fog, we can easily reach the target cow. For example, if a cow escapes early in the morning, before Ushimiru, we wouldn't know the situation until we went out. Even if it was by the roadside, we had to go to confirm. And if multiple cows escaped, it was time-consuming to gather staff since they’re scattered over the vast pasture. Now, we can prepare in advance like, “That area looks suspicious, let’s all go check it out.”
— Has the response speed improved when something actually happens?
Yes. Soon after introducing Ushimiru, we had a major breakout. We checked the Ushimiru app and saw that the cow had gone beyond the premises. We quickly gathered everyone and responded. Without Ushimiru, the patrol staff would only notice the cow was missing and then we’d search based on assumptions. Ushimiru helps not only with time-saving in daily work but also in emergencies.
— Has the visibility of cow behavior improved work efficiency?
Yes, especially during searches after an escape. New cows are unfamiliar with fences and sometimes run straight into them and escape. With Ushimiru, we can check on our phones and say, “It’s probably over there,” and go look.
— Was it easy to get used to operating Ushimiru and putting on the collar?
At first, attaching the belt was unfamiliar. But once you get used to it, it's fine. Attaching to the leg is dangerous with restless cows—you feel at risk when they kick. Collars are easier because cows already wear number tags around their necks. The app itself isn’t that difficult to operate.
— Do all staff check Ushimiru?
Almost all do. I usually check it first thing in the morning on the PC and share with others if all seems fine. For beginners, registering cows and linking them might be tricky, but the app clearly shows the cow icons on the map, so you can understand the basics even without details.
— What feature of Ushimiru do you like most?
The ease of attaching the collar, and the fact that it’s easy to consult with the developers if we want app improvements.
— Any episode where you found Ushimiru particularly useful?
About 10 days a month, we have heavy fog in the morning. Being able to search using location info is really helpful. Without Ushimiru, we would rely only on instinct.
— Was there a moment when you felt glad to have Ushimiru?
The number of escapes hasn’t changed, but initial response has become faster and overall working time is reduced. It also helps us prepare future countermeasures more easily.
— Has Ushimiru lowered the bar for training new staff by replacing experience-based searching?
Yes. Tracking cow movements and footprints is based on experience, but you can lose track. With Ushimiru, you can find the cow quickly with GPS, so it’s more efficient.
— What would you recommend to other farms?
It depends on the terrain of each farm, but LoRa can reach distant cattle, so you can reduce the number of gateways. Our farm uses three, but maybe one could almost cover it all.
