Wagyu

A Wagyu bull
High-grade sliced Matsusaka wagyu beef (rib-section meat), showing characteristic marbling

Wagyu (和牛, Wagyū, "Japanese cow") is any of four Japanese breeds of beef cattle.

In several areas of Japan, wagyu beef is shipped carrying area names. Some examples are Matsusaka beef, Kobe beef, Yonezawa beef, Mishima beef,[1] Ōmi beef, and Sanda beef.

History

Japan

Japanese Black cattle of the Tajima strain on a farm in northern Hyōgo Prefecture
Wagyu show in Sasebo, Japan

There are four breeds of wagyu: Japanese Black (黒毛和種, Kuroge Washu), Japanese Brown (赤毛和種, Akage Washu or Akaushi), Japanese Polled (無角和種, Mukaku Washu), and Japanese Shorthorn (日本短角和種, Nihon Tankaku Washu).[2][3] Wagyu cattle's genetic predisposition yields a beef that contains a higher percentage of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids than typical beef. The increased marbling also increases the ratio of monounsaturated fats to saturated fats.[4]

Japanese Black makes up 90% of all fattened cattle in Japan.[5] Strains of Japanese Black include Tottori, Tajima, Shimane and Okayama.[6] Japanese Brown, also known as Japanese Red,[5] is the other main breed;[6] strains include Kochi and Kumamoto. Japanese Shorthorn makes up less than one percent of all cattle in Japan.[7]

The idea that practices such as massaging cattle or feeding them beer could improve meat quality is a myth,[8] the result of misunderstanding.[9]:13

Australia

The Australian Wagyu Association is the largest breed association outside Japan.[10] Both fullblood and Wagyu-cross cattle are farmed in Australia for domestic and overseas markets, including Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the U.K., France, Germany, Denmark and the U.S.[11] Australian Wagyu cattle are grain fed for the last 300–500 days of production. Wagyu bred in Western Australia's Margaret River region often have red wine added to their feed as well.[12]

United States

In the United States, Japanese Wagyu cattle are bred with Angus cattle. This crossbreed has been named American Style Kobe Beef.[13] Wagyu were first competitively exhibited at the National Western Stock Show in 2012.[14] Some U.S. Wagyu breeders have full blooded animals directly descended from original Japanese bloodlines, and are registered through the American Wagyu Association.[15]

Canada

Wagyu cattle farming in Canada appeared after 1991 when the Canadian Wagyu Association was formed. Wagyu style cattle and farms in Canada are found only in Alberta,[16] Ontario[17] and Prince Edward Island.[18] Canadian Wagyu beef products are exported to the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and Europe.[18]

United Kingdom

In 2008 a herd of Wagyu cattle was imported to North Yorkshire, with the first produce becoming available in 2011.[19] Since 2011 there have been Wagyu herds in Scotland.[20][21][22][23][24]

The Wagyu Breeders Association Ltd was established in July 2014.[25]

References

  1. ↑ "NGRC Bos taurus". www.nodai-genome.org. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  2. ↑ Porter, Valerie; Mason, Ian Lauder (2002). Mason's world dictionary of livestock breeds, types, and varieties. CABI. p. 66. ISBN 0-85199-430-X.
  3. ↑ "What Is Wagyu?". Japan Meat Information Service Center. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013.
  4. ↑ Condon, John (March 2005). "Good Fats Boost Wagyu Opportunities". Australian Wagyu Update. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 2006-12-07.
  5. 1 2 "Wagyu Japanese Beef" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 January 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Wagyu - What are they? Where did they come from?". Archived from the original on 5 January 2013.
  7. ↑ "Japanese Shorthorn Cattle". Archived from the original on 30 August 2012.
  8. ↑ Daniel Krieger (26 August 2010). "All for the love of Tajima cows" Archived 9 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine.. The Japan Times. Accessed January 2017.
  9. ↑ Kiyoshi Namikawa (1985). Breeding History of Japanese Beef Cattle and Preservation of Genetic Resources as Economic Farm Animals. In: Proceedings of Washington State University 3rd Wagyu Symposium, Washington, USA, pages 1–28. Archived 15 April 2012.
  10. ↑ "Australian Wagyu Forum". Archived from the original on 10 April 2013.
  11. ↑ Exports Archived 10 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine.; Australian Wagyu Association; accessed .
  12. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  13. ↑ U.S. ranches breed famous Kobe-style beef Archived 28 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine.; 12 August 2011 article in The Japan Times" (from the Associated Press); p. 3; accessed .
  14. ↑ Raabe, Steve (11 January 2012). "Tender Wagyu muscles onto meat scene, makes stock-show exhibition debut". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on 13 January 2012.
  15. ↑ "Registration - DNA Tests - American Wagyu Association". wagyu.org. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  16. ↑ Kobe beef on P.E.I.? Veterinarian raising wagyu cattle Archived 6 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine.; The Chronicle Herald online; accessed .
  17. ↑ Kuntz First to Breed Wagyu in Ontario Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine.; The Post South Bruce; accessed .
  18. 1 2 About Us; Canadian Wagyu online; accessed.
  19. ↑ "World's dearest beef to be sold in Yorkshire". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  20. ↑ "Try a little tenderness: on the farm with Scotland's Wagyu cattle". The Herald. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  21. ↑ "Scottish farm to make Japanese Wagyu beef". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  22. ↑ "Highland Wagyu beef firm in expansion drive". BBC News. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  23. ↑ "Perthshire - the Wagyu centre of Europe". The Scottish Farmer. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  24. ↑ "spreading the wagyu message". scottish farmer. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  25. ↑ "The Association". British Wagyu. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.

Further reading

  • Hongo, Jun (6 July 2010). "Despite 'wagyu's' history, foot-and-mouth hit hard". FYI (weekly column). The Japan Times.
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