Abstract
In order to clarify the characteristics of the tree-shade preferred by grazing cattle, microclimate inside shade, kinds of shade tree, and size of shade were compared between the shade used and not used by cattle in 9 hilly paddocks during the summer season. The shade preferences of cattle were not affected by the kinds of shade tree when the shade was produced mainly by broadleaf trees. Cattle preferred the shade wherein the wind velocity was the highest, and this trend became especially strong during the afternoon. The shade size also affected the cattle's shade preferences. The shades less than 4 a were more preferred by cattle than the shades more than 10 a. The proportion of the wind velocity inside the shades of more than 10 a to the outside decreased with the increase of shade size. However, this decrease of wind velocity with the increase of shade size was not evident in the shades less than 10a. From these results, it was concluded that the shade preference of cattle mainly depended on the wind velocity inside the shade.
