Abstract
The number of Japanese short horn breeding farmers has been decreasing since the liberalization of beef import. The objective of this paper is to analyze the conditions under which the current strength of Japanese short horn breeding farmers can be maintained or increased. Toward this purpose, I surveyed the manner in which farmers obtain roughage in Iwate Prefecture’s main production area. It was clarified that the local roughage production and supplying system supports the middle-sized farmers by supplementing their self-supplied roughage and thus enables them to engage in forestry or diversified farming.
