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Summary of our research
Researchers led by Masaya Matamura, a doctoral student in the Graduate School of Bioresources at Mie University, and Associate Professor Makoto Kondo have developed a new method to predict how efficiently cattle digest feed, using a novel technology based on fecal analysis of Japanese Black cattle.
Japanese Black cattle (Wagyu), prized for their highly marbled beef, are raised throughout Japan, but rising feed costs have become a major issue in production. Because Wagyu obtain much of the energy needed for fattening from starch, maintaining a high digestion efficiency is vital for productive breeding. However, there had previously been no practical way to measure digestion efficiency in farm-raised cattle.
Over a five-year study conducted at multiple research farms, the team analyzed in detail the feed intake and fecal composition of 116 Japanese Black cattle. As a result, they successfully established a new method for predicting digestion efficiency based on the starch concentration remaining in feces.
In addition, the researchers demonstrated the potential of rapid measurement techniques using near-infrared spectroscopy, as well as innovative survey methods that estimate digestive efficiency from smartphone images of feces, reducing the time and labor required for chemical analysis.
This research opens the way for scientifically evaluating feed utilization in Wagyu, paving the path toward smarter feed design and more efficient Wagyu production.
The main findings were published on October 9, 2025, in the international scientific journal Scientific Reports.
【Mie Prefectural Livestock Research Center】
Researcher information
MASAYA Matamura
Ph.D. student, Graduate School of Bioresources
Specialized area：
Animal nutrition, near-infrared spectroscopy, machine learning (deep learning)
Current research field：
Rapid estimation of starch content in cattle feces using near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning
MAKOTO Kondo
Graduate School of Bioresources Associate Professor
Specialized area：
Animal Feed Science, Ruminant Nutrition
Current research field：
・Estimation of starch digestibility in dairy and beef cattle
・Nutritional evaluation of food by-products as ruminant feeds