WHAT IS WAGYU

The  "Wa or 和" in Wagyu means Japanese and
"Gyu or 牛" means Cow.  

Just as the name implies, Wagyu refers only to the specific strain bred in, and unique to Japan.  Wagyu is the Queen of all breeds. Compared to other breeds, 100% genetically pure Wagyu has excellent marbling or intramuscular fat.​

Japan is a country that started consuming steak 200 years ago, and it impresses us how quickly they were able to create the highest quality steak in the world. Not to mention that Japan is an island with a lot of natural disasters, and they were still capable of creating a beef industry that is known worldwide for its standardized and superior quality.

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The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from Japan, created a standardized method to assess the quality of the carcasses. Every single Japanese Wagyu, regardless of where it was bred or slaughtered, are assessed by the same objective criteria.​

Certified graders from the Meat Grading Association use a formula developed in order to measure the color, marbling, smell, and other factors. Once the formula is calculated, the graders classify the carcasses in their appropriate categories. This guarantees the standardized superior quality of Wagyu that is exported to customers all over the world.

I just bought some Wagyu - is there a way to know where the cow came from and who raised the cow?

The Universal Wagyu Mark shown on the image was created in 2007 by the Japan Livestock Industry Association. This mark was created to prove the authenticity of the Wagyu beef purchased anywhere in the world.​Japan takes Wagyu quality to a distinct level by registering every single head of purebred Wagyu. After four months of birth, professionals examine each calf, issue documentation with individual identification numbers, and record any abnormalities. ​Following the procedure, if the calves meet the criteria created by the Japan Livestock Industry Association, they receive an Official Wagyu Calf Registration Certification.  This certification not only shows that the calf is a purebred Wagyu raised in Japan.

With the 10 digit number issued on the registration, customers can trace the calf back three generations through a clearly defined pedigree.


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