 Wagyu
Cattle, Kobe and Tajima Beef
The Japanese word Wagyu translates
as “Wa” meaning “our” or “Japanese”
and “Gyu” meaning “Cattle”. Although the
name Wagyu refers to all Japanese cattle,
it has become synonymous in the USA with Japan’s famous
Kobe or Tajima
Beef. Kobe is the capitol of the Hyogo
region of Japan which is in the ancient Tajima
province where selective breeding as well as traditional
Japanese handling and feeding of Waygu
cattle has resulted in the finest and most
expensive beef found anywhere in the world.
 Decadent,
Rich, Juicy……..Healthy?
The marbling, flavor, color
and texture of Wagyu beef makes
for an incredible culinary experience, and in this case
what’s incredibly good to eat can be better for your
health than any other beef. Wagyu beef tends to have a 2:1
ratio of monounsaturated fat (the “good” fat)
to saturated fat (the “bad” fat), a much better
profile than any other breed of cattle. Even the saturated
fat in Wagyu is different from that other cattle. Forty
percent of Wagyu saturated fat is stearic acid which is
known to have little impact on raising human cholesterol
levels. Wagyu beef is also unique in its high concentrations
of beneficial omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.
Sweetwater Wagyu Genetics
The Wagyu cattle capable of
producing beef of exceptional quality are in heavy demand
and are sought after all over the world. Our full blood
Wagyu seed stock is the product of some of the most proven
carcass genetics to enter the United States and our percentage
Wagyu derive from crosses with our Registered
Angus that we have bred and selected specifically
for desirable carcass qualities. Some of the wagyu genetics
in our program include progeny from:
Suzutani.................
Fukutsuru 068........
Sanjirou..................
Michifuku.................
Takazakura.............
Yasufuku.................
Kitateruyasu Doi.....
Shigeshigetani........ |
possibly the most significant female to
leave Japan
#1 marbling sire in the USA
#3 marbling sire in the USA
former #1 marbling sire in USA and most proven
former #4 marbling sire in USA
sired the #2 marbling bull in USA
sired the new #5 marbling bull in USA
highly sought after son of Suzutani |
Measuring Wagyu Beef Quality
The Japanese beef grading system
is significantly more thorough in measuring points of quality
than the system used in United States. The points measured
by the Japanese system allow for the identification and
classification of the superior beef that can be produced
by
Wagyu cattle and include grades
for:
- Yield
- Marbling
- Color and brightness of meat
- Firmness and texture of meat
- Color, luster and quality of fat and identifies damaged
or blemished carcasses.
In the United States our USDA Quality Grades do not even have
a classification high enough to identify beef with such abundant
and well distributed marbling as is afforded by properly bred
and handled Wagyu cattle. The American Wagyu Association is
currently working on setting standards for the USDA to allow
for recognition of a Certified Wagyu
Beef brand to identify Wagyu beef that performs outside
the scope of the antiquated and vague USDA system.
| Equivalence of U.S. and
Japanese Marbling Scores |
U.S. D.A.
Quality Grade |
U.s. D. A Marbling Score* |
BMS Number |
Japanese
Quality Grade |
| N/A |
Extremely Abundant 50+ |
11 or 12 |
5 |
| N/A |
Extremely Abundant 0-49 |
10 |
5 |
| N/A |
Very Abundant 50-99 |
9 |
5 |
| N/A |
Very Abundant 0-49 |
8 |
5 |
| Prime |
Abundant |
7 |
4 |
| Prime |
Moderatly Abundant |
6 |
4 |
| Prime |
Slightly Abundant |
5 |
3 |
| Choice |
Moderate |
4 |
3 |
| Choice |
Modest |
3 |
3 |
| Choice |
Small |
|
|
| Select |
Slight |
|
|
| |
Traces |
|
|
| * There are no official grades above Abundant
in the USDA specifications. The terms Very Abundant
and Extremely Abundant are arbitrary. |
| BEEF MARBLING
STANDARDS |
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 |
 |
| BMS # 1 Quality Grade
1 |
BMS # 2 Quality Grade
2 |
BMS # 3 Quality Grade
3 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| BMS # 4 Quality Grade 3 |
BMS # 5 Quality Grade 4 |
BMS # 6 Quality Grade 4 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| BMS # 7 Quality Grade 4 |
BMS # 8 Quality Grade 5 |
BMS # 9 Quality Grade 5 |
| |
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 |
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| BMS # 10 Quality Grade 4 |
BMS # 11 Quality Grade 5 |
BMS # 12 Quality Grade 5 |
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