How is Wagyu Beef Raised? The Sought After Truth

When it comes to the question, how is Wagyu beef raised, there are some popular myths as well as some ugly truths to take a look at.

The Truth: How Is Wagyu Beef Raised?

The Wagyu breed of cattle are a special Japanese breed that are raised on a specific diet for high marbling and extremely tender meat. While some are grain fed, some are fed whole crop silage or a grass-fed diet.  It is well known that they are often raised in a stress-free environment.

How Is Wagyu Beef Raised?

American Wagyu farms take great care to ensure that their muscles are nice and relaxed. This usually means avoiding lots of activity and stress.

Allowing Wagyu cattle to free-range also keeps them relaxed. Some Wagyu farmers use a stiff brush to increase blood circulation and work out tension in the muscles.

Do Wagyu Cows Need Massages?

The myth of Wagyu cows needing massages originated from Japan.  It is not common practice to massage Wagyu cattle.  

Simply raising them in a stress-free environment with plenty of grazing space is enough to keep their muscles nice and relaxed, giving you tender, well marbled meat. 

Do Wagyu Farmers Play Classical Music for Wagyu Cows?

Have you heard that farmers play classical music to Wagyu beef herds to keep them relaxed? Believe it or not, this is a widely spread myth.  Instead, most cattle ranchers ensure that Wagyu cattle live a stress free life by being raised in a free range, humane way.

How Is Wagyu Beef Raised? Is It Humane?

Contrary to popular belief, the Wagyu breed is humanely raised in the United States and Australia, often in free-range environments with a grass-fed diet. On the other hand, many people question how Wagyu are raised by Japanese farmers.

How Is Wagyu Beef Raised, Treated & Fed?

American Wagyu farms create a satisfying, low-stress life for this special breed of cattle.  Most Wagyu farmers provide their cows with three meals a day of high-quality including hay, grain, whole crop silage, and wheat.

These cows also get the luxury of a grass-fed diet, by farmers allowing them to free-range on pasture. Furthermore, some American Wagyu cattle are 100% grass-fed.

What is the Average Lifespan of a Wagyu Cows?

Wagyu cows are typically raised longer than traditional beef cattle.  They are often sent for processing around 30 months compared to the 18 months of traditional beef cows.

​How Are Wagyu Cows Slaughtered?

Just as the slaughter house that we use for our cows, Wagyu cows are often rendered unconscious by way of captive bolt.  This bolt renders them unconscious, as the slaughter process begins.  This humane and effective process minimizes pain and suffering. 

The processing of a whole cow can also bring up the question of hanging weight vs packaged weight. Researching before hand will help you through the processing of your cow.

About the Wagyu Breed

“Wa” means Japanese and “Gyu” means cattle. The Wagyu breed is made up of four different types of Wagyu. Fullblood Wagyu are certified by birth certificate and carefully tracked.

• Japanese Black- This makes up 90% of Wagyu beef. It is known for it’s extensive marbling.
• Japanese Brown- Known as the healthier, leaner, red Wagyu.
• The Japanese Shorthorn- This breed is from northern Japan and is also a lean Wagyu breed.
• Japanese Polled-This rare Wagyu breed has a distinct flavor and also the smallest population. 

Do All Wagyu Beef Come From the Japanese Cow?

Traditional Wagyu beef comes from one of the four breeds: black, brown, shorthorn, or polled.  In the 1970’s the Japanese Wagyu beef cattle were brought to the United States, contributing to now what we know as the beef cross, the American Wagyu beef.

American Wagyu Beef in the United States & How It’s Different

In the United States, the Japanese Wagyu was eventually crossed with the Angus cattle breed to give us American Wagyu Beef.  The cross gives a sought after, flavorful, tender, and marbled cut of meat. After weaning, cattle are fed a special diet for 400-500 days compared to Japans 600 day finishing time. 

Wagyu Cows on American Wagyu Farms and Australia Farms

American Wagyu beef farmers, as well as Australia farmers have expanded the Wagyu breed by crossing them with their own cattle. This is considered a crossbred Wagyu breed, being at least 49% Wagyu. Australia is known for having some of the best Wagyu beef and the biggest herd outside of Japan.  

How is the Diet of Wagyu Cattle Different From Other Cattle Breeds?

The American Wagyu breed of cattle often have a highly controlled diet and are fed several times a day. Their diet largely consists of grain, barley, and corn along with grazing natural forage and native grasses. There are also some strictly grass-fed wagyu farms in the United States and Australia. 

Are Wagyu Cows Raised Free-Range or in Feedlots

The production of wagyu beef varies in different parts of the world. Many Australian and American Wagyu farmers free-range their Wagyu beef cattle, where Japanese Wagyu are often raised on feed lots. 

How is Wagyu Beef Raised in Japan?

Japanese Wagyu beef is raised differently. It is said that they are often on feed lots where they do not have access to grazing pasture and are force fed an unnatural diet of rice, grains, bread, and even alcohol.

Thankfully, Australian and American Wagyu farmers are held to a cruelty free standard and provide proper care. Wagyu cows are allowed to graze pasture with plenty of room. 

What Factors Contribute to the High Price of Japanese Wagyu Beef?

With the limited supply of Wagyu beef, you can expect higher prices. Couple that with a large amount of specialized feed and hands on care that Wagyu cattle receive, no wonder Wagyu beef is so expensive.  

What Makes Wagyu Steak So Special?

Wagyu steak is like no other steak in the world.  It has an extreme amount of buttery marbling that can’t be compared to any other beef cattle breed.

What is the Wagyu Steak Rating System and the Highest Grade?

The rating system is made up of two parts. Firstly, the cattle are labeled either A, B, or C. The letter represents the percentage of beef on the cow, A being the best.  Secondly, the meat is graded for it’s ratio of fat, or marbling, to lean meat, with a score of 1-5.  The highest score Wagyu can receive is an A5.

Wagyu Vs. Kobe Beef

Kobe beef is a type of Wagyu beef but not all Wagyu beef is Kobe beef.  It is a strain of authentic Wagyu beef called, Tajima-Gyu, that also has superior flavor and rich marbling.

What Role Does Genetics Play in Raising the Highest Quality Wagyu Beef?

Not only does how Wagyu cows are raised effect quality of the meat, genetics also plays a major role. Intramuscular fat, or the marbling, is greatly effected by Wagyu genetics.  The highest quality will come from the Japanese Black Wagyu cattle. 

Is Wagyu Beef Healthier Than Conventional Beef?

Grass-fed Wagyu beef is well marbled with omega-3 fatty acids, the healthy fat. Traditional grass-fed beef also ranks high in healthy fats, where as grain fed beef tends to have more saturated fats, which contributes to heart disease.

How is Wagyu Beef Raised?

The question, how is Wagyu beef raised, may have crossed your mind, as there are a few popular myths and common misconceptions out there. Now that you know exactly how Wagyu beef cattle are raised you can make the decision for yourself if you’ll indulge in this sought after steak, that is said to be like a fine wine.

Happy Homesteading,

Jenny @ The GrahamStead Family Farm

Jenny and her family have been homesteading for over 20 years. They are currently farming on their 10 acre Florida farm, that they built from the ground up, 8 years ago, growing 100% of their meat and a lot of their vegetables. From their small herd of Aberdeen Angus Cattle, Pastured Poultry, Sheep, and seasonal pigs, they are able to raise enough meat for the family while selling extra to the community. All the while, striving to butcher at home, as much as possible, and use the bits and pieces of their harvest by preserving food, making bone broth, and (Jenny’s favorite) tanning all kinds of hides!

Sources: https://wagyu.org/for-consumers/what-is-wagyu-beef