Hitoyoshi Yatake Ranch
The Yatake Ranch is located in Hitoyoshi, Yatake Town, a small, nature-filled community near the border of Kumamoto and Miyazaki Prefectures at an altitude of 536 meters. This area, abundant with the Kuma River water system underground, has a mild, cool climate that remains pleasant even in summer. This highland coolness and fresh air make it an ideal environment for cattle, which are sensitive to heat. Yatake Ranch raises calves from approximately 4,000 breeding cows, making it one of Japan’s largest-scale operations.
Farm HACCP Certification
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- Certification Date
- July 2, 2018 – Present
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- Certified Facilities
- Slaughtering and processing facilities
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- Certification Body
- Japan Livestock Technology Association
JGAP Certification
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- Certification Date
- March 26, 2021
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- Certified Facilities
- Sugimoto-Honten Group Farms
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- Certification Body
- S.M.C. Co., Ltd.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding Program
At Sugimoto-Honten, our guiding principle since our founding has been, “Healthy beef starts with healthy cattle.” We are committed to providing calves with their mother’s milk from birth and ensuring they are raised with their mothers for three months to establish a strong foundation for health. This breastfeeding period not only strengthens their immunity but also allows calves to grow in a stress-free environment.
As calves develop, their fourth stomach gradually adjusts to digesting roughage, allowing them to grow healthily through a natural cycle.
Mother Water
Groundwater of the Kuma River system,
both people and mother cows and calves drink this groundwater.
The underground water of the Kuma River system, known as “Mother Water,” is an essential part of daily life on the ranch. This pure water, which springs from a depth of 600 meters beneath the mountains, is consumed by the ranch staff, mother cows, and calves alike every day. Rich in minerals, this “Mother Water” supports the health of both the cattle and the people who work at the ranch.
