We investigated the influence of sowing time from summer onward on the next year’s growth response of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) using six cultivars differing in maturity. In every cultivars, the dry matter yield of the first harvest sown in September remarkably decreased as compared to those sown in August, there were observed in the decreasing degree of yield among the cultivars. The yearly total yield, including the aftermath of the delayed sowing, was not able to catch up with an August sowing. A decreasing degree of first harvest in timothy was largest in extremely early cv. Kunpuu, and relatively smaller in early cv. Natsuchikara, and middle cvs. Natsupirika and Kiritappu. Anyway, to make the best use the yield potential of each cultivars, it is important not to delay the sowing time to make cultivars express the genuine growth from the first crop. However, it should be considered that these results were on the data of single year’s experiment.

We determined the effects of including collagen casing (5% or 10%, added to a control diet) in the diet of pigs from the growing stage on their growth rate, meat production, and serum composition. The daily weight gain during the finishing stage and over the whole period of the study were significantly lower in the 10% group than in the control group (P<0.05). Feed intake (kg d⁻¹ head⁻¹) was significantly lower in the 10% group than in the control group during each period (P<0.05). In the 10% group, feed intake was lower during the finishing stage (P<0.1) and significantly lower overall (P<0.05) than in the 5% group. The albumin/globulin ratio and the serum concentrations of γ-globulin and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol were affected by feeding 10% casing. The total cholesterol concentration was significantly lower in the collagen casing-fed groups than in the control group. The lower feed intake and weight gain of the 10% group suggests that the addition of 5% collagen casing to the diet of fattening pigs is more appropriate than the addition of 10% collagen casing.

Mangalica pig is a Hungarian breed which was introduced to Tokachi in Hokkaido. However, there are few reports on related to the growth information of Mangalica in the world. Thus, we studied the growth information and carcass performance between Mangalica and commercial breed (Camborogh and LWD). The weight of Mangalica was 1.2±0.0 kg at birth, 63.8±1.2 kg at 6 months which was considered as a commercial shipping period, and the growth was more slowly than commercial pig and did not gain much weight after 15 months of age. In the carcass performance, the carcass weight of Mangalica did not increase after 18 months and this study was revealed that the back-fat thickness of Mangalica was equal to or larger than twice as thick as that of commercial pig. There was no difference in the melting point of lipid between both breeds although the differences were observed in fatty acid components, linoleic acid was low (P < 0.05) and oleic acid was high tendency (P < 0.10) compared to commercial pig. In conclusion, Mangalica was able to fatten in the grazing environment at Tokachi and we determined the appropriate shipping period of Mangalica was between 15 to 18 months.