Hey there, dairy enthusiasts. Welcome back to
the Bull Vine Podcast. I'm your host. And today
I'm going to share an absolutely fascinating
story. that has me completely captivated. The
remarkable journey of Tommy Araki, a visionary
who has transformed Japanese dairy farming over
an incredible five -decade career. You know what
I love most about our industry? It's the passionate
people who quietly revolutionized dairy farming
around the world. And Tommy Araki? He's the perfect
example of how one dedicated individual can reshape
an entire country's approach to Holstein breeding.
Picture this. A young boy growing up surrounded
by cows in Japan in the 1960s and 70s, who would
eventually become the crucial bridge between
Japanese and North American dairy industries.
That's Tommy Araki for you, and his story begins
with such humble, determined curiosity. Back
in the late 1970s, when resources for aspiring
dairy professionals in Japan were practically
non -existent, do you know what young Tommy did?
He actually wrote letters. Physical letters.
to AI centers asking them to send him bull books.
Can you imagine that level of initiative? That
was really the beginning of everything, he says
with that characteristic humility you often find
in the most accomplished people. Tommy grew up
in a household with cows, so his connection to
these animals developed naturally. I grew up
in a household with cows, so I naturally developed
an interest in them. In a way, it felt like a
calling from above, he recalls with a laugh.
That early affinity would set the foundation
for a lifelong dedication to dairy cattle improvement.
After graduating with his veterinary medicine
degree from Rokuno Gakuen University in 1977,
Tommy had two pivotal mentors who shaped his
path. There was Dr. Numata, his surgery professor,
and then Mr. Inoshita from Japan Holstein Breeding
Service who gave him life -changing advice. You
should go study in the U .S. That suggestion
led to a six -month stint at Select Sires in
1979, which Tommy describes as, a major turning
point in my life. This immersion in American
breeding practices gave him an international
perspective at a crucial early stage in his career.
The knowledge and connections he developed during
this period would later enable him to serve as
a critical bridge between Japanese and North
American dairy industries. His timing couldn't
have been better. He joined Japan Holstein Breeding
Service during what he calls truly a vibrant
era for the industry when dairy farming in Japan
was experiencing significant growth. This period
of expansion provided fertile ground for an ambitious
young professional with fresh international perspectives.
Over his 36 -year career with JHBS, which later
became Genetics Hokkaido Association, Tommy worked
his way up from sire analyst to heading the semen
sales division. positions that allowed him to
implement his vision for improved dairy cattle
on a national scale. What I find most impressive
is how Tommy dedicated himself to bringing the
best genetics from North America to Japanese
farms. One of my most dedicated efforts during
my time at Genetics Hokkaido and earlier at JHBS
was the introduction of superior genetic resources
from North America into Japan, he explains. His
methods evolved brilliantly over time. from importing
live animals for progeny testing to a more efficient
approach using embryos to produce elite sires
and high quality cows domestically. In the early
stages, we imported live animals from North America
and conducted progeny testing in Japan to evaluate
their daughter's performance. However, we later
shifted to a more efficient approach, importing
embryos to produce elite sires and high quality
cows domestically, he explains. With government
subsidies supporting the initiative, they imported
over 1 ,000 embryos annually. And with Japan's
artificial insemination rates near 100%, these
elite genetics could quickly transform the national
herd. This enabled dairy farmers across Japan
to access top -level North American genetics
more easily and led to a rapid expansion of genetic
exchange between the two regions. But Tommy wasn't
done innovating. When he retired from genetics
Hokkaido in 2013 at age 59, he immediately launched
Tommy Hill International Litadid, focusing specifically
on importing and distributing embryos from North
America. By 2015, he had signed an agency agreement
with T -Genetics and the following year launched
ST Japan to begin importing semen from North
America. Perhaps his most revolutionary contribution
was introducing sexed semen technology to Japanese
farmers. At that time, sexed semen was still
relatively unknown and uncommon in Japan. Promoting
it was a major challenge, he recalls. But this
technology, which allows farmers to produce primarily
female calves for herd replacements, completely
transformed breeding efficiency in Japan. The
launch of ST Japan proved to be a turning point
for the Japanese dairy industry, in Tommy's assessment.
By promoting a breeding strategy focused on ensuring
the production of replacement heifers, he introduced
a more systematic approach to herd management
that gradually became the new standard across
the country. This innovation addressed a critical
efficiency gap in Japanese dairy operations.
By using sexed semen to produce replacement heifers
from the best cows and beef semen, typically
wagyu, on the remainder, farmers could optimize
both their dairy genetic progress and their income
from beef cross calves. These detailed reproductive
strategies have become well established and reflect
Japan's focus on precision breeding. What I really
appreciate about Tommy's philosophy is his focus
on functionality over mere appearances. When
judging Holsteins, he prefers cows with strong,
well -attached udders and sound skeletal structure,
cows that can consistently produce large volumes
of milk over a long period. He doesn't place
much importance on size, which is refreshing
in a world that often prioritizes visual appeal
over practical performance. He started judging
Holsteins at just 25 years old, when the prevailing
belief was that bigger is better. But Tommy held
firm to his conviction that truly valuable cows
are those that can outperform the average in
a typical barn producing more milk efficiently.
Now, with satisfaction, he notes how the industry
has evolved toward his long -standing position.
This shift from prioritizing appearance to emphasizing
performance represents a maturation of the industry
that Tommy witnessed and helped guide over his
five -decade career. When asked about underappreciated
indicators of a cow's longevity or productivity,
Tommy emphasizes the functional traits that might
not capture attention in the show ring but prove
their value in everyday production environments.
In dairy cattle reproduction, What truly matters
is not size or short -term milk yield, but whether
a cow can remain healthy and productive over
a long period. Traits like utter quality, strong
skeletal structure, resistance to disease, and
healthy feet and legs are directly linked to
long -term productivity and ease of management,
he explains. Tommy's international perspective
gives him unique insights into the differences
between Japanese and North American dairy approaches.
At the 50th Central Japan Holstein Show, he remarked
on Quebec's more aggressive approach to Holstein
improvement. When asked to elaborate on comparisons
between Japanese and North American approaches,
he acknowledges, At this point, I believe that
Japan's genetic improvement in dairy cattle still
hasn't fully caught up with countries like the
United States and Canada. However, the gap is
steadily narrowing. He points to Japan's increasing
utilization of elite North American genetics
as a key factor in this progress. In recent years,
Japan has made significant progress by actively
importing and utilizing elite genetic resources
from North America, such as high quality semen
and embryos. This genetic importation strategy,
which Tommy himself championed, has yielded tangible
results in Japanese herds. Beyond genetics and
breeding, Tommy has witnessed profound shifts
in how Japanese society relates to dairy products.
When I began my career, dairy products in Japan
were largely viewed as something for children,
the elderly, or the sick, he recalls. This limited
perception reflected dairy's initial positioning
in Japanese culture as primarily a nutritional
supplement rather than a mainstream food category.
The transformation in Japanese dairy consumption
patterns paralleled broader cultural changes.
As Japanese dietary habits rapidly westernized,
dairy products like cheese, yogurt, and fresh
cream gradually became part of everyday life
across all age groups, Tommy explains. This dietary
evolution represented not merely changing tastes,
but a fundamental shift in cultural food preferences.
Cheese consumption exemplifies this transformation.
One major shift was in cheese consumption. Domestic
production increased, and locally made cheeses
gained wide acceptance as everyday ingredients.
This trend created a virtuous cycle for the dairy
industry, as it helped raise awareness about
the flavor and nutritional components of milk
itself, such as fat and protein content. Contemporary
Japanese consumers increasingly seek premium
dairy attributes. Today, rich, high -fat, high
-protein milk is increasingly preferred, and
there is growing attention toward products with
added health value such as A2 milk. This preference
for higher milk solids contrasts with Western
trends toward reduced -fat dairy products and
reflects distinct cultural preferences that influence
breeding objectives. Let's talk about Hokkaido,
Japan's northernmost main island, which has developed
into the country's dairy powerhouse. Hokkaido
is often compared to Quebec because both regions
share similarities in climate, natural environment,
and a strong foundation of family -run dairy
farms. Tommy explains. One distinctive feature
of Hokkaido's dairy model is its emphasis on
feed self -sufficiency. One of Hokkaido's defining
features is its feed self -sufficiency model,
built on the cultivation of homegrown forage
and corn, taking full advantage of the region's
expansive farmland. While Hokkaido shares similarities
with Quebec, it also faces unique challenges
that have driven innovative adaptations. Hokkaido
also faces unique local challenges. most notably
a serious labor shortage, Tommy notes. This workforce
deficit reflects broader Japanese demographic
trends, including an aging rural population and
declining birth rates. The response to this challenge
demonstrates Hokkaido farmers' pragmatic innovation.
In response, there has been a rapid adoption
of robotic milking systems and automation technologies.
This embrace of labor -saving technology allows
farms to maintain productivity with fewer workers
and help build more sustainable management systems.
Having worked extensively with both Japanese
and North American dairy systems, Tommy offers
nuanced observations on the subtle differences
between these regions. The demographic challenges
facing Japanese agriculture have accelerated
certain technological adoptions. In Japan, labor
shortages have become a serious issue in recent
years. As a result, the adoption of automation
technologies, such as robotic milking systems,
is progressing rapidly, Tommy explains. Distinct
consumer preferences in each market create divergent
breeding objectives. In Japan, consumers tend
to prefer milk with higher fat and protein content,
unlike in Western countries where low -fat milk
is more common, Tommy observes. This preference
for richer milk influences breeding decisions
and selection emphasis. Looking toward the future,
Tommy identifies a clear direction for Japanese
dairy farming. Japanese dairy farming is moving
toward managing more cows with fewer people.
This efficiency imperative demands specific animal
attributes. To make this possible, we need cows
that are healthy, efficient, and productive,
with minimal management and maximum return. In
other words, truly economic cows. Despite regional
differences, Tommy emphasizes the universal fundamentals
that unite dairy farming globally. The fundamentals
of dairy farming are the same around the world.
That's why I believe it's so important to learn
from one another and build strong international
partnerships. After 50 years in the industry,
Tommy maintains the enthusiastic curiosity of
a perpetual student. I continue to see change
every day, and I hope to keep learning and evolving
for many years to come. he reflects. This commitment
to continuous learning exemplifies the mindset
that has allowed him to remain relevant and influential
through decades of industry transformation. Tommy
Araki's legacy lives on in the improved genetics
of Japanese dairy herds, the strengthened connections
between international dairy communities, and
the modern breeding strategies now standard across
Japan. His story shows how one passionate, dedicated
person can shape an entire industry through persistence,
innovation, and unwavering focus on fundamentals.
From handwritten letters requesting bull books
to pioneering embryo imports and introducing
revolutionary breeding technologies, Tommy's
career traces the arc of a rapidly advancing
industry. Perhaps his greatest contribution has
been serving as a living bridge between Japanese
and North American dairy cultures, facilitating
genetic exchange and knowledge transfer. that
has benefited both regions. If you ever get the
chance to meet him, I think you'd have so much
to talk about. His perspective on what makes
a truly functional, profitable cow would fascinate
anyone passionate about dairy excellence. That's
all for today's episode of the Bullvine Podcast.
If you enjoyed Tommy's story as much as I did,
please subscribe, leave a rating, and share with
your fellow dairy enthusiasts. Until next time,
keep leading friends.