株式会社窪田畜産 窪田加奈子の３プライド

株式会社窪田畜産　窪田加奈子
鹿児島県　霧島市
肥育牛：100頭、育成牛：50頭、親牛：400頭、子牛：350頭
取材日：2025年5月13日

• “うちの子”として、最後まで
• 牛と家族に感謝して
• まずやってみる！

“うちの子”として、最後まで

記者「窪田さんの牧場のこだわりについて、まず教えてください。」

窪田さん「うちの牧場のこだわりは大きく3つあります。まずは“家族経営”を基本にしている点ですね。家族全員が関わっているからこそ、長く続けていける仕組みづくりを意識しています。子どもが6人いるので、彼らにも継ぎたいと思ってもらえるような環境にしたい。給与や休みの制度も整えるよう努力していますし、畑や牛舎がすぐ近くにあるので、小さい頃から自然に仕事を覚えていってくれる。それが何よりの強みだと思っています。」

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記者「家族経営とはいえ、450頭の繁殖牛に加えて300頭の子牛と100頭の肥育牛を管理するのは大変かと思います。人手はどのくらいなんですか？」

窪田さん「実際には、家族（いとこ・弟を含む）が8人に加え、女性スタッフが1人います。小規模な体制ですが、自動化や機械導入を進めて、作業の効率化を図っています。牛舎も自分たちで建てており、コストは3分の1以下に抑えられています。餌やりもフォークリフトを活用し、一人ひとりの負担が少なくなるよう心がけているんです。修理や溶接も自分たちで行うので、無駄な出費も減らせています。」


記者「なるほど、自分たちでできることはすべて自分たちで、という姿勢が感じられますね。牧草についても100%自家産と聞きましたが、そこにもこだわりが？」

窪田さん「はい、自家牧草100%はここ数年でようやく実現しました。土地探しも夫が農業委員として関わり、空き地情報を得ながら畑を広げてきました。牧草を買わずに済むのでコストが安定しますし、餌の質にも気を配れます。状態のいい牧草は種付け前の牛に、やや劣るものは育成牛に使うなど、状態を見ながら与えています。季節によって栄養価が変わるため、必要に応じて外部に成分分析を依頼し、補助飼料で調整しています。」


記者「“窪田牛”というブランドについて教えてください。」

窪田さん「“窪田牛”は、生まれも育ちも全てうちの牧場という牛を指すブランドです。地元の飲食店さんとの繋がりから少しずつ広めているところで、現在は公式LINEで情報発信もしています。最終的には、鹿児島の牛肉の魅力を県外の方にも届けたいという思いがあります。“窪田牛”を通じて、地域に誇れるブランドを育て、全国に鹿児島の牛の魅力を知ってもらえたら嬉しいですね。」

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Reporter: "First, please tell us about the particularities of your farm."

Kubota: "There are three main particularities of our farm. First, it is based on being a "family business." Because the whole family is involved, we are conscious of creating a system that will allow us to continue the farm for a long time. We have six children, so we want to create an environment that makes them want to take over the farm. We are also working hard to establish a system for salary and vacation, and since the fields and cowsheds are nearby, they naturally learn the work from a young age. I think that is our greatest strength."


Reporter: "Even though it is a family business, it must be difficult to manage 450 breeding cows, 300 calves, and 100 fattening cows. How many staff do you have?"

Kubota: "Actually, there are eight family members (including cousins ​​and younger brothers) and one female staff member. Although it is a small operation, they are promoting automation and introducing machinery to improve work efficiency. They built the cowshed themselves, and costs were reduced to less than one-third. They use forklifts for feeding the cows, and are trying to reduce the burden on each employee. They also do repairs and welding themselves, so they are reducing unnecessary expenses. ”


Reporter: “I see, it seems that you have an attitude of doing everything you can yourself. I heard that you grow 100% of your own grass, but are you particular about that too?”

Kubota: “Yes, it has only been a few years since we achieved 100% self-grown grass. My husband was involved in finding land as an agricultural committee member, and we have expanded the fields by obtaining information about vacant land. Since we don't have to buy grass, costs are stable and we can pay attention to the quality of the feed. Good quality grass is slightly inferior to that of cows before breeding. We feed them depending on their condition, such as using it for growing cows. Since the nutritional value changes depending on the season, we ask an outside organization to analyze the ingredients as necessary and adjust the amount with supplementary feed.

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Reporter: "Please tell us about the brand 'Kubota Beef.'"

Kubota: "'Kubota Beef' is a brand that refers to cows that are born and raised on our farm. We are gradually spreading the word through connections with local restaurants, and currently we are also disseminating information through our official LINE account. Ultimately, we want to spread the appeal of Kagoshima beef to people outside the prefecture. Through 'Kubota Beef,' we would be happy if we could develop a brand that the region can be proud of and let people all over the country know about the appeal of Kagoshima beef."

牛と家族に感謝して

記者「自分の牛に点数をつけるなら、何点をつけますか？」

窪田さん「迷わず120点です。お産から育成までずっと自分で見ているので、どの牛にも愛情と感謝があるんですよ。分娩時は流産や早産もあるし、お腹の中で亡くなってしまうこともある。だからこそ、生まれてきてくれただけで“ありがとう”。元気に立って初乳を飲んでくれたら、もうそれだけで大満足です。我が子の誕生と同じ気持ちなんですよね。」

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記者「その120点を、さらに上げていくために今後改善したいことはありますか？」

窪田さん「そうですね、やっぱり目標としては体重をしっかり乗せて、枝肉としての評価をもっと上げたいです。今でもA4〜A5の評価は得られているんですが、セリで出すと“ちょっと小さいね”と見られることもあって。だから、一貫経営に近づけて、肥育部門の成績を上げていくのが課題です。窪田牛として誇れる体づくりを目指していきたいですね。」


記者「そういった取り組みの中で、マニュアル化にも力を入れていると伺いましたが、その理由は？」

窪田さん「はい、牛の管理はどうしても属人的になりがちで、技術のあるおじちゃん一人に任せてしまっている部分もあるんです。だからこそ、誰でも同じように飼育できるようにマニュアル化が必要だと感じています。ビタミンの注射のタイミングや餌の量、状態に合わせた対処法などを細かく記録し、息子たちが継ぐときにもスムーズに引き継げるようにしたい。でも結局、最後は“人”なんですよ。マニュアルだけじゃ育たないことも多くて、なぜそれをやるのか、そこに納得して初めて意味があると思ってます。」


記者「窪田さんが“これは欠かせない”と感じている道具や取り組みはありますか？」

窪田さん「一番のアイテムはやっぱり“自家牧草”ですね。手間もかかるし、天候にも左右されるけど、これがうちの牛の健康を支えてくれてます。牧草の質にこだわって、堆肥もたっぷり使いながら育てていますし、土壌検査も定期的に行ってます。以前、鶏糞を入れすぎて硝酸態窒素が高くなりすぎてしまって、草が牛にとって“毒”のようになってしまった経験もあります。それ以来、より慎重に管理しています。草づくりも牛づくりの一部だと感じています。」

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Reporter: "If you had to give your cow a score, how many points would you give it?"

Kubota: "120 points without hesitation. From birth to raising, I watch over them all the way through to the end, so I have love and gratitude for each cow. There are miscarriages and premature births, and some cows die in the womb. That's why I'm just "thankful" that they were born. If they stand up healthy and drink colostrum, I'm very satisfied. It's the same feeling as the birth of my own child. ”

Reporter: "Is there anything you would like to improve in the future to further improve the 120 points?"

Kubota: "Yes, my goal is to put on weight and improve the evaluation of the carcass. Even now, we are getting an evaluation of A4 to A5, but when we put it up for auction, it is sometimes seen as "a little small". So, the challenge is to get closer to an integrated management and improve the performance of the fattening department. I want to aim to build a body that we can be proud of as Kubota beef."


Reporter: "I heard that among these efforts, you are also focusing on creating manuals. Why is that?"

Kubota: "Yes, cow management tends to be very personal, and some parts are left to one skilled man. That's why I feel that manuals are necessary so that anyone can raise them in the same way. I want to keep detailed records of things like the timing of vitamin injections, the amount of food, and how to deal with the condition of the cows, so that my sons can take over smoothly when they take over. But in the end, it's all about "people." There are many things that don't grow with just manuals, and I think it only has meaning when you understand why you are doing it."

Reporter: "Are there any tools or efforts that you feel are "indispensable" to Kubota?"

Kubota: "The most important item is definitely "self-management" "Home pasture". It takes a lot of work and depends on the weather, but it supports the health of our cows. We are particular about the quality of the pasture, and we use plenty of compost to grow it, and we regularly conduct soil tests. In the past, we put in too much chicken manure, which caused the nitrate nitrogen level to become too high, and the grass became "toxic" to the cows. Since then, we have been managing it more carefully. We feel that growing grass is also a part of raising cows."

まずやってみる！

記者「窪田さんが師匠や目標にしている方がいれば教えてください。」

窪田さん「はい、今“姶LOVE和牛女子”という女性畜産家のネットワークを立ち上げた際に、中心になってくれた“久留須さん”という方がいて、その方をとても尊敬しています。もともと看護師さんだった方で、今は玉名市で牧場を経営しながら組織の会長も務められているんですが、とにかく人への気遣いがすごいんです。優しさと芯の強さを併せ持っていて、女性としても農家としても憧れの存在。牧場ではご主人やお嫁さん、若手の後輩とも連携していて、“こういうお母さんがいたらいいな”と心から思える方です。私自身、義母がいない状態でここに来たので、あの人のように家族や仲間に優しくありたいと強く感じています。」

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記者「そういった方と出会えるのは大きいですね。では、窪田さんの座右の銘についても教えてください。」

窪田さん「“やればできる”です。これは亡くなった父のメモに書いてあった言葉で、小学生になる前に父を亡くした私にとっては特別な一言です。部活で空手や卓球をやっていた時も、きつい時に思い出して自分を奮い立たせてきました。農業って本当に体力的にも精神的にも大変なことが多いけど、“やればできる”という言葉に背中を押されてきたんです。子どもたちにも、“できないって言う前にやってごらん”と伝えてきました。6人の子育てにも仕事にも通じる、大切な教えです。」


記者「子育てにも仕事にも共通しているのが“まずやってみる”という姿勢なんですね。」

窪田さん「そうですね。ミルク運ぶのも最初は重くて嫌だったけど、毎日やっていれば自然と慣れるし、“自分には無理”って思う前に、一歩踏み出すことが大事だと思います。女性が農業をやるのは簡単じゃないけど、気持ちがあれば乗り越えられる。その土台には、父の言葉があったんだと思います。」

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Reporter: "Please tell us if there is anyone you look up to or look up to."

Kubota: "Yes, there is a person named "Kurusu" who was the central figure when we started the network of female livestock farmers called "Cow Girls," and I really respect her. She was originally a nurse, and now she runs a farm in Tamana City and is involved in the organization's activities. She also serves as the head of the farm, but she is incredibly considerate of others. She is kind and strong-willed, and is someone I admire both as a woman and as a farmer. At the farm, she works closely with her husband, his wife, and the younger members of the farm, and I truly think, "I wish I had a mother like that." I came here without a mother-in-law, so I really want to be kind to my family and friends like her.


Reporter: "It's great to be able to meet someone like that. So, please tell us about your motto."

Kubota: "'If you try, you can do it.' This is a phrase that was written in a note from my late father, and it's a special phrase for me, as I lost my father before I started elementary school. Even when I was doing karate and table tennis in club activities, I would remember it and motivate myself when things got tough. Farming is really a great job, both physically and mentally. Although I do a lot of strange things, I was encouraged by the words, "If you try, you can do it." I have also told my children, "Before you say you can't, try it." It is an important lesson that applies to raising six children and to work."


Reporter: "What is common to both raising children and work is the attitude of 'trying first.'"

Kubota: "That's right. At first, I didn't like carrying milk because it was heavy, but if you do it every day, you naturally get used to it, and I think it's important to take a step before thinking, 'I can't do it.' It's not easy for women to do farming, but if you have the will, you can overcome it. I think my father's words were the foundation for that."

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自家牧草

手間や天候の影響があるものの、自家牧草は牛にとって最も安心できる飼料であり、その質に徹底的にこだわっています。堆肥をたっぷり使い、定期的な土壌検査を行うことで、草の栄養バランスを保ちつつ、安全性にも細心の注意を払っています。過去に鶏糞の使いすぎで硝酸態窒素が高まり、草が牛にとって有害となった経験から、現在ではより慎重な管理を実践しています。

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Although it is a lot of work and is affected by the weather, our own pasture is the most reliable feed for our cows, and we are extremely particular about its quality. By using plenty of compost and conducting regular soil tests, we maintain the nutritional balance of the grass while paying close attention to its safety. Having previously used too much chicken manure, which increased the nitrate nitrogen levels and made the grass harmful to cattle, we now practice more careful management.

Writer_T.Shimomuro