sentences:  Cattle were brought to Japan from China at the same time as the cultivation of rice, in about the second century AD, in the Yayoi period.Until about the time of the Meiji Restoration in 1868, they were used only as draught animals, in agriculture, forestry, mining and for transport, and as a source of fertiliser.Milk consumption was unknown, and – for cultural and religious reasons – meat was not eaten.