Animals that work alongside people Cows

Cows have historically been treated as work animals,　and people have eaten meat since long time ago. However, in the 17th century, a ban on the slaughter of cows and horses was issued, because working animal were important to help get agricultural products. Only cows which could no longer work were slaughtered. This is one of the reasons why pork became popular in Okinawa.
It seems that there were many cows native to Okinawa who had black fur. However, this was refined due to the introduction of other species from mainland Japan and Taiwan, from the Meiji Era through the Taisho Era. Under the occupation of the United States after the war, besides imports from mainland Japan, species born in America and Australia were also introduced. There was production of meat and milk from crossbred cows along with an increase in the number of cows bred with the same species.
After Okinawa was returned to the Japanese mainland, along with the markets facing towards the Japanese mainland, they were merged with Japanese black furred cows. Okinawa has a warm climate all year round, so production of calves thrived. Most of the calves born in Okinawa are taken in by fattening farmers (farmers who raise cows to be big to be used as meat). They become brand cows. Agriculture has become more mechanized in recent years. Cows are no longer used for farming. However, cows are working nearby pulling water buffalo carriages for tourism.

Bullfights [Uiorase] began at the end of the Meiji Era, and they were like festivals before and after their agricultural work in the season. These fights were popular as entertainment in agricultural regions. Bulls were made to fight each other, and if a cow runs away without fighting spirits, he is a loser. Even in the present, many places in Okinawa Prefecture hold bullfights, has been held prefecture tournament.