What is Wagyu?

Wagyu (pronounced ‘wag-you’) is a breed of cattle native to Japan.

The word means Japanese beef - “wa” means Japanese and “gyu” means beef.

Many people have heard of Kobe beef, a type of Wagyu beef, which comes from the region of Kobe in Japan. Like Champagne in France, Wagyu beef is only called Kobe when it comes from that specific region. Wagyu has a renowned reputation for its marbled quality. This is what gives the beef its unique tender and buttery flavour.

 The Benefits of Wagyu Beef

People consider Wagyu beef a healthy option too. This is because it contains a high percentage of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Its intense marbling improves the ratio of monounsaturated fats.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid is an omega-6 fatty acid (CLA). It is linked to many health benefits.

Wagyu beef contains the highest amount of CLA per gram of any foodstuff - about 30% more than other beef breeds. So as well as being delicious its healthy for you too!

  Our Wagyu

Fullblood Wagyu is produced when the father and mother are both 100% Wagyu, both across the world and in Japan. Most Wagyu cattle around the world are produced as a cross. In Japan, the favored first cross breed is with a dairy animal. This is known as an ‘F1 Wagyu’ because it is 50% or more Wagyu. F1 Wagyu can be produced by crossing with any non-Wagyu breed.

Here we mainly breed F1 Wagyu with a Holstein Freisian, Longhorn, Angus, or Red Devon mother. As the herd grows, we also breed F2’s (75%) and F3’s (87.5%). Our embryo programme for full blood Wagyu is in development. We wait with baited breath for our very own fullblood calves soon.

Our cattle are slow growing on grass for around 3 years, in an area of the UK that can’t grow other crops . This grass removes carbon from the atmosphere. Our cattle graze on it and convert it into great beef. We then finish the cattle on a grain and forage mixed diet. We use grains sourced locally and home grown forage.

The cattle need a stress-free environment. This helps them burn less fat and achieve the correct marbling. The marbling mechanism takes time to kick in, unlike the traditional breeds. It also marbles front to back, the reverse of native breeds.

The boys have a calm temperament and are easy to handle. But, the cows can be flighty, particularly the mothers. They are highly fertile. Some females produce 25 embryos per flush, more than four times the amount from other breeds. They give birth to smaller calves. This makes them perfect for breeding to heifers (first-time mums).

We raise our beautiful Wagyu on lush green pastures. They enjoy a good, healthy, sustainable diet with plenty of fresh Snowdonia air. We tend our animals from their first tentative steps. We care for them until they reach maturity, which takes around 36 months. This is double the time for other breeds. They enjoy a happy, healthy natural life with a few pints of local beer for good measure.

Our Wagyu are very much the beating heart to our future.