Located in the northernmost part of Hokkaido, Tenpoku is one of the representative dairy farming districts in the prefecture. Official data for fiscal 1983 show that the size of grassland per dairy farm household is 35 ha and that the number of milch cows averages 48 head.
Between 1981 and 1984, investigation was made on the health of women on dairy farms by means of a questionnaire, consultation and multi-programmed health examination. The survey project was actually under-taken during the spring and summer months. The effective number of subjects were 350.
The results of the investigation was compared with those of another health survey which was conducted in the same period on a total of 960 women engaged in paddy rice farming.
The comparison revealed that there are marked differences in health conditions between the two groups.
(1) The frequency of complaints such as associated with the “farmers' syndrome” is higher among the dairy farmers than the rice growers.
(2) The incidence of anemia is also higher in the former group than the latter.
Dairy farming in the district mostly is a family business.The larger the ranch becomes, the harder women, particularly housewives, have to work.
In order to improve health standards, changes in eating habits and implementation of preventive measures against stiffness in the shoulders, low back pain and other lifestyle-related maladies.
To lessen the work load, cooperation among neighbors in a larger part of work should be encouraged.