History
The Unit of Hard Health was established in 2008 as a unique laboratory not found in other veterinary colleges in Japan, within the Division of Hygiene and Environmental Science in the Department of Veterinary Medicine (Division of Preventive Veterinary Medicine starting in FY2021) in the area of Applied Veterinary Medicine in view of the trend toward internationalization of education. Professor Oikawa (former laboratory of Internal Medicine) and Associate Professor Nakata (former laboratory of Theriogenogosy, Professor from 2009) from the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences. In addition, Dr. Yoichi Sueda joined as a specially-appointed professor in FY2009 and devoted himself to field education. Professor Ken Nakata then moved to the Animal Reproduction Unit in the Department of Production Animal Medicine in FY2016; in FY2017, Lecturer Rika Fukumori from the Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University joined as a member (Associate Professor since FY2021).
The Unit deals mainly with herds rather than individual animals, and from the standpoint of preventive veterinary medicine, it develops field-oriented activities for disease control and production management to maintain and improve productivity. We are aiming to solve problems in dairy farming not only from the viewpoint of veterinary medicine, but also from the viewpoint of animal husbandry, economics, and sociology. Our research themes are (1) control of perinatal diseases in transition dairy cows, (2) environmental monitoring for health management of dairy cattle herds, and (3) clinical application of metabolic hormones and various bioactive substances in dairy cows.
Extension activities include periodic herd health examinations on four dairy farms located near the university, as well as herd health examinations and consulting on management of dairy farms under contract with Hokkaido Agricultural Mutual Aid Association and the Agricultural Cooperatives in Hokkaido. In addition, we often conduct herd health examinations at the request of organizations related to dairy farming outside of Hokkaido. We perform herd health examinations for a total of approximately 8,000 dairy cows per year.
Staff
OIKAWA Shin
Ketosis
Liver lipidosis
Lipid metabolism
Preventive medicine
Dairy cattle
| E-mail | oishin@rakuno.ac.jp
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| Tel | +81-11-388-4814 |
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| Address | B1-105, 582 Midorimachi, Ebetsu, 069-8501, Hokkaido, Japan |
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| Message | We conduct field research to improve health and productivity while practicing health checkups on dairy herds. |
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Titles and Education
- Current – Professor in the Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of
University of Wisconsin Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI
- 1986.4-1997.3. Public servant, Iwate Prefecture
- MS, 1986
School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University
- DVM, 1996
School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University
FUKUMORI Rika
Nutritional physiology
Gut peptides
Nutrient metabolism
Calves
Dairy cows
Transition period
| E-mail | fukumori@rakuno.ac.jp
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| Tel | +81-11-388-4814 |
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| Address | B1-106, 582 Midorimachi, Ebetsu, 069-8501, Hokkaido, Japan |
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| Message | My research is aimed at improving both health and productivity by approaching issues related to dairy cattle management from the aspects of nutrition and physiology. |
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Titles and Education
- Current – Associate Professor in the Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University
- 2014.4-2017.3. Assistant Professor in the Univertisy Farm, Utsunomiya University
- BS, 2008 School of Applied Biological Science, Hiroshima University
- MS, 2010, and PhD, 2013 Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University
CHISATO Kyoko
Dairy cattle
Transition period
Ketosis
Preventive medicine
| E-mail | k-chisato@rakuno.ac.jp
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| Tel | +81-11-388-4825 |
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| Address | B1-108, 582 Midorimachi, Ebetsu, 069-8501, Hokkaido, Japan |
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| Message | My research focuses on the transition period of dairy cows, the actual occurrence of subclinical ketosis and how to prevent it. |
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Titles and Education
- Current – Assistant Professor in the Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University
- 2017.4-2021.3. Clinical Veterinarian, Soya Veterinary Clinical Center, Hokkaido Agricultural Mutual Aid Association
- BS and DVM, 2017 School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University
