Introducing Jinseki Cattle

In April 1916 (Taisho 5), the Hiroshima Prefectural Breeding and Stockbreeding Center was established in Jinseki County, and seed bulls were bred and distributed within the prefecture. As seed bull breeding became more active, many were purchased in and out of the prefecture, and the reputation of “Jinseki cattle” became widely publicized, becoming synonymous with cattle produced in Hiroshima Prefecture. *Seed bulls: Bulls used for breeding purposes.

In May 1926 (Taisho 15), the Crown Prince visited Hiroshima Prefecture, and the Jinseki cattle of “Houjin” and “Houjitsu” were shown at the ruins of Fukuyama Castle. With this serving as a catalyst, when Emperor Taisho passed away on December 2, 1926 (Taisho 15), and a grand funeral ceremony was held on February 7, 1927 (Showa 2), four Hiroshima cows (two of which were Jinseki cows) had the honor of being the first cows other than Tamba cows from Kyoto to be given the order to pull a hearse.

Following the ceremony, the two cows (the Jinseki cattle “Houman” and the Hiba cattle “Yahata”) that served as hearse pullers were given free of charge by the Ministry of the Imperial Household (imperial gift) at the request of Hiroshima Prefecture. “Houman” produced a large number of seed bulls in its offspring and had a significant impact on cattle breeding in Jinseki County and Hiroshima Prefecture, and the lineage has been passed down through the generations to the present day. “No.2 Yokotoshi,” the 6th generation of the legendary Houman that pulled the hearse was born and had excellent body growth and meat quality. (A monument in honor of Houman still remains at the site of the Breeding and Stockbreeding Center in Jinseki County.)