Mie University develops fecal analysis method for improving feed efficiency in Japanese Black cattle

On October 31, a research group led by Graduate Student Masaya Matamura and Associate Professor Makoto Kondo from the Graduate School of Bioresources at Mie University announced that they have developed a method to predict how efficiently Japanese Black cattle digest their feed using fecal samples. They have also developed a technology that enables rapid measurement using near-infrared light, as an alternative to chemical analysis. This is expected to lead to feed formulation with less waste and more efficient Wagyu beef production. The results were published in Scientific Reports on October 9.

Rising feed costs are a major challenge facing Japanese Black cattle, which are highly valued for their marbled beef. Wagyu cattle obtain most of the energy needed for fattening from starch. However, measurement of starch digestibility could previously only be performed at a limited number of specialized facilities. Furthermore, there was no means for farmers to assess digestibility in their own cattle themselves.

In this study, with the cooperation of prefectural research institutes, the team spent five years examining feed intake and fecal samples from 116 fattening Japanese Black cattle, conducting a detailed analysis of the samples' components, and calculating the starch digestibility of each animal.

As a result, they successfully established a method to predict digestibility based on the starch concentration remaining in feces.

They also developed a technology for rapid measurement by shining light (near-infrared) on feces. Furthermore, as an even simpler method, they are developing a program that predicts digestibility from smartphone images of feces. The combination of rapid light-based measurement and AI image analysis technology could potentially serve as a new indicator for scientific evaluation.

Kondo commented: "To actually measure starch digestibility, we need to collect feces from beef cattle for five consecutive days. Collecting these from 116 animals required tremendous effort. Thanks to the cooperation of research institute staff from Mie, Shiga, Gifu, and Hiroshima prefectures, as well as the hard work of our laboratory students, we were able to obtain valuable data. Since starch is an important energy source for beef cattle, we believe that starch digestibility is related to productivity measures such as weight gain in beef cattle. Going forward, we plan to use the method established in this study to monitor starch digestibility at production sites, identify factors that cause differences in digestibility between production sites, and explore ways to improve digestibility where needed."

Journal Information
Publication: Scientific Reports
Title: Estimation of total-tract starch digestibility using fecal starch concentration in fattening Japanese Black cattle
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-19380-1