Recently I read a Lifehacker.com post describing how you can trace a Domino's Pizza order on a GNU/Linux using a python script (the post can be found HERE).

Very impressing I might say! That same night I watched an interesting show on TV describing a very radical program currently active in Japan called "The Cow Traceability Program". Tracing a pizza order online sounds cool, but tracing online the origins of the beef you are about to eat is very impressing! You might have read about the quality (and the cost) of  prime quality Japanese beef (cf. Kobe Beef). Quoting from Wikipedia:

Kobe beef (神戸ビーフ, Kōbe Bīfu) refers to beef from the black Tajima-ushi breed of Wagyu cattle, raised according to strict tradition in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. These practices may include a diet of saké and beer, and daily massages to relieve muscle stiffness, presumably resulting in tender meat.

So, what is the cow traceability program? Basically, a 10 digit number printed on selected packages of high quality beef (牛の個体識別番号 = Cow's ID number) can be used to view the history of the cow online.

All you have to do is go to https://www.id.nlbc.go.jp/top.html and input the 10 digit Cow ID number and click on the search button (検索). Give it a try using cow ID 1085809113. Below is the output you get (English translation by me):

Forgot to mention that you can also trace the origin of your beef using your mobile phone!

 There you have it now! If you happen to be in Japan, get to know your cow (before you eat it)!!!

Last update : 23-06-2008 07:37

Keywords : cow, beef, cow traceability, kobe beef

Average user rating

   (0 vote)