NEWS

Professor Toshihisa Sugino’s research was featured on NHK ONE

NHK ONE’s news segment “AI Revolution: Will Efficiency Gains in Agriculture Protect Our Food Supply?” featured Professor Toshihisa Sugino of Hiroshima University’s smart dairy farming research. This advanced dairy technology uses AI to analyze cow behavior and environmental data to predict milk production two weeks in advance. Read the article here (this link will take you to an external website). Additionally, this research is scheduled to be broadcast on NHK WORLD. ・Program Title: “Bizstream” 　March 7 (Sat) 11:10 PM (JST) 　March 8 (Sun) 5:10 AM 　March 9 (Mon) 12:30 PM, 6:30 PM 　March 12 (Thu) 4:00 AM ・Program Title: “NEWSLINE” 　March 10 (Tue)

Press Release: Approximately 260 million yen in funding has been secured for research on semen preservation methods for dairy cattle artificial insemination developed at Hiroshima University (video available)

A project aimed at developing a semen preservation method for artificial insemination in dairy cattle—drawing on insights into mammalian sperm motility mechanisms from the research group led by Professor Masayuki Shimada at the Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University—has secured a three-year grant of approximately 1.8 million US dollars (approximately 260 million yen as of October 2025) from the Gates Foundation. In connection with this achievement, a press briefing was held on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at the TKP Shimbashi Conference Center. A video recording of the briefing has been released as part of this press release report. We invite you to view it.

We held the “2025 Memorial Service for Animals”

On Monday, November 10, 2025, the 2025 Memorial Service for Animals was held at the DRDC. This service expresses gratitude to animals whose precious lives were sacrificed for education and research, while also providing an opportunity to reflect on the sanctity of life and bioethics, and to pay respects to their spirits. At the Animal Memorial Monument, following Director Sugino’s “Words of Commemoration,” faculty, staff, students, and other attendees offered flowers. 84 people participated this year.

Press release: Study demonstrates that spore-forming lactic acid bacteria, probiotics, reduce diarrhea and improve growth performance

The National Federation of Dairy Cooperative Associations (Main Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Chairperson: Hiroshi Kumabe), Hiroshima University (Main Campus: Higashihiroshima city, Hiroshima; President: Mitsuo Ochi) and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Manabu Chikumoto) showed that Heyndrickxia coagulans SANK70258 (H. coagulans), a spore-forming lactic acid bacterium known as a probiotic, reduce diarrhea due to an increased intake of starter feed after weaning and improve growth performance. For more information on this matter, please refer to the Hiroshima University press release (in Japanese).

We have launched a “Practice of Smart Dairy Science”

On September 16 (Tuesday) to 19 (Friday), 2025, DRDC held the “Practice of Smart Dairy Science” was held at DRDC. Eighteen participants from five universities, including students from School of Applied Biological Science, Hiroshima University, Focusing on dairy cow management utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as sensing technology, AI, and robotics through lectures and practical training. For details about the workshop, please see the Education Hub page.

We have launched a “Life, Food and Agricultural Education through Experimental Studies of Dairy Farming”

On September 2 (Tuesday) to 4 (Thursday), 2025, DRDC held the “Life, Food and Agricultural Education through Experimental Studies of Dairy Farming” was held at DRDC (Due to the effects of the typhoon, the program will be held for only three days.) Twenty-two participants from four universities, including students from School of Applied Biological Science, Hiroshima University, learned about milking, Animal Welfare, milk production process, and other topics through lectures and practical training. For details about the workshop, please see the Education Hub page.

We have launched a “Field Practice of Dairy Production”

On August 19 (Tuesday) to 22 (Friday), 2025, DRDC held the “Field Practice of Dairy Production” was held at DRDC. Eighteen participants from six universities, including students from School of Applied Biological Science, Hiroshima University, learned about milking, breeding management, nutrition management, and other topics through lectures and practical training. On the final day, they presented their project reports. For details about the workshop, please see the Education Hub page.

We have launched a “Field Science Practice for Shokuiku in Childcare and Elementary Education”

On Saturday, July 19, 2025, DRDC held the “Field Science Practice for Shokuiku in Childcare and Elementary Education.” Fourteen teachers from Hiroshima University’s affiliated kindergartens (Higashi-Hiroshima and Mihara) participated in the course, which focused on the theme of “food and nutrition education.” Participants experienced milking cows, learning about cow feed, and making butter using raw milk produced at DRDC.