Wagyu Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Kobe and Wagyu?

Kobe is a brand of beef that’s raised only in the Hyogo Prefecture and can only be from the Tajima lines of the Japanese Black Wagyu. All Kobe is Wagyu from the Japanese Black but not all Wagyu are Kobe. Kobe is the most well known of the Wagyu brands but each Prefecture has its own brands, some farms and co-ops have their own brands as well. Miyazaki is another well known brand, Miyazaki beef has beaten Kobe in the last 3 Wagyu Olympics which is held every 5 years. The last winner was in 2017 and it was Kagoshima beef.

Are “Purebreds” and “Full Bloods” the same thing?

No they are not, “Purebred “ in most other breeds means 100% Full Blood but with the American Wagyu Association it is as low as 93% to 99% but can never be 100%. It can be confusing since we have the term Purebred and Full Blood which usually mean the same thing. When purchasing genetics make sure to look at the registration number. A Full Blood will start with FB followed by its registration number, a Purebred will start with PB followed by the registration number and below Purebred we also have Percentage which will start with a PC followed by registration number.

Can I buy 100% Full Blood Wagyu genetics in the US?

Yes you can, we only raise 100% Full Blood Black Wagyu that DNA trace all the way back to Japan. Just be aware when purchasing genetics Purebred is NOT 100%. It must say FB followed by its registration number (ie. FB####) for Full Blood on the pedigree to be 100% Full Blood. Also be cautious of the color, if it does not say 100% Black or 100% Red on the pedigree then it is a cross of the two and biologically not Full Blood according to the Japanese. Some older registration papers may use the word “composite” in place of coat color percentage. The term composite (cross) which more accurately describe them was removed and replaced with a color percentage.

Are Black Wagyu and Red Wagyu the same breed?

No, they are not biologically related at all and are only considered the same breed outside of Japan. The disservice that’s being done when the breed organization will not acknowledge this is changing the genetics of two separate breeds for all future generations. When those cattle were brought over I think some things were lost in translation. For years Wagyu was described as the breed when in fact Wagyu is breeds of cattle not one breed. The Red Wagyu also known as the Japanese Brown, Kumamoto and Akaushi, are one breed and the Japanese Black is the other breed that was exported. Any combination of these is a cross breed of Wagyu although the Association does not acknowledge them as crosses. The reason for that is simply put that too many breeders have crossed the breeds and it’s too late to change it now.

Do the Japanese cross breed the Black Wagyu and Red Wagyu?

No they do not, they do however cross the Japanese Black with Holsteins for meat production. Holsteins have very good marbling ability and are the best cross for meat production short of full blood production.

What does F1 mean?

Traditionally F1 means that animal is a cross between a 100% Full Blood Wagyu and another breed of cattle which will give it 50% Wagyu blood. (But be careful, the American Wagyu Association allows any animal bred by a “Purebred” bull which is as low as 93% Wagyu to be labeled as Wagyu even though it’s offsprings Wagyu blood can be 46%.)

What does F2 mean?

F2 has 75% or higher Wagyu blood. This can be achieved by using a 100% Full Blood bull bred to an F1 cow.

What does F3 mean?

F3 has 87% or higher Wagyu blood. This can be achieved by using a 100% Full Blood bull bred to an F2 cow. These are also know as Percentage Wagyu.

Are all Wagyu horned?

Yes, all 100% full blood Red and Black Wagyu are horned. Dehorning is easily done when they are young by using hot irons, gouger style loppers, electric irons or surgically. Horns can be an inconvenience for some but removal is necessary, easy and cheap. When going from commercial cattle to Wagyu you must keep your eye on the prize which is extreme marbling.

Do polled Wagyu exist?

Yes and no, polled Wagyu are another breed of Wagyu in Japan, that breed was never exported. In 1916 Aberdeen Angus were crossed to the Japanese Black cattle to create the Japanese Polled. In 1975 the Japanese crossed the Japanese Polled back to the Japanese Black to improve marbling that was lost because of the earlier crossing. In 1986 the Japanese stopped reporting carcass data on the Japanese Polled and it is now considered an at risk breed with less than 200 head because they are not being used and consists of less than 1% (trace) of Japanese breeds. An interesting fact is Angus was only crossed to make the Polled in one Prefecture, the Yamaguchi Prefecture. All other crosses to the Japanese Blacks were mainly Short Horn, Devon, Brown Swiss and Ayrshire but no Angus. Currently American and Australian breeders are trying to make polled Wagyu by crossing Angus just like the Japanese did. Those cattle are Percentage or Purebred, not Full Blood. For us the trade off of having to dehorn our cattle is worth the extreme marbling we get from the full bloods. 

What kind of climate can I raise Wagyu in?

Wagyu can be raised in any climate, in Japan the island has tropical areas in the south and farther north it has lots of snow. Wagyu can be found from Australia to South Africa to Canada and everywhere in between. We have Wagyu in climates in as cold as -32 degrees Fahrenheit and as warm as 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

What are average birth weights of Wagyu calves?

The birth weights we have recorded range from 40 pounds being the smallest to 70 pounds being the heaviest we will normally see. Even the 70 pound calves are calving ease since Wagyu are narrow bodied and finer boned than other breeds at that weight. The average birth weight we see is 60 pounds. Don’t let the small size fool you, these calves are very hardy.

What are the growth rates of Wagyu like?

Wagyu are a very slow growing breed, it’s how they are made. It’s another thing the commercial cattleman must accept, like the breed being horned. Remember keep your eye on the prize.

When can I breed a Wagyu heifer?

We will not breed our heifers until at least 14 months of age. Although you must be careful, some breeders have found out on accident that Wagyu heifers are fertile very young and will get bred at 6 months of age.

If I buy an embryo and have a bull calf should I keep it a bull?

I would say no, this breed has too many bulls and not enough steers. The sooner you get a steer on feed and finished the sooner you jump ahead of the majority of Wagyu breeders with no carcasses of their own to show.

How long does it take to finish a steer?

It takes 30 months to properly finish a steer. We strive for at least 800 days on full and creep feed.

What are average daily gains of Wagyu steers on feed?

Average daily gains are between 2 pounds to 2.25 pounds per day. Marbling takes time and can not be rushed, if you try to rush them it will show in the final product.

What are average finish weights?

The average finish weights we are seeing at 30 months and full feed are between 1400 and 1800 pounds. The Japanese see many finished steers in the 1800 pound range.

How much do full blood steers on feed consume per day on average?

Our steers are consuming on average 22 pounds of grain every day when they are on full feed.

Are Wagyu steers easy to feed out?

Yes, our full blood steers are fed using a free choice creep feeder, every time we run the numbers the full blood consistently consume 22 pounds per day on their own, eliminating the need for bunk feeders and feed truck. F1s will not feed out as easily as full bloods because they will consume far too much free choice. They will need to be fed out of feed bunks and fed twice a day.