Final Thoughts - Lessons Learned

When I was in Yonago at the 9th Zenkyo, I happened upon a stall selling a copy of a book that I had been endlessly searching the Internet for: “Top 100 Cattle in Japan” by Kenichi Ono – and not only did I find the first edition (published in 1999), but the 2nd (2002) and the 3rd editions (October 2007) as well.

With the help of Dr. Hiroshi Uchida, I have been able to decipher enough of the Japanese script to uncover some rather remarkable findings. I am currently working with other Japanese translators to see what other nuggets I can uncover.

1. The 1999 edition of “Top Cattle” features Yasufuku 930 – the first chapter is devoted to this sire and his major progeny, most notably Yasufuku 165-9. Yasufuku 165-9, coincidentally, was the top marbling sire in Japan as evidenced the Japanese Sire Evaluation Report published in December 2001. (Yasufuku was also named as the sire of Fukukakae [number 2] and Yasuhira [number 3] – as well as maternal grandsire of Yasuhira in the 2001 Sire Report).

Interestingly, I saw numerous cattle in the Tottori Wagyu show with breeding featuring Yasufuku offspring mated with Kitaguni 7-8 offspring and vice versa – it seems to be a favored breeding of the Japanese.

2. The 2002 edition of “Top Cattle” features Yasufuku 165-9 in the first chapter. Yasufuku 930 and his offspring seem to be at the top of all the Wagyu sires during that time (1999-2002).

3. By the time of the 2007 edition, Yasufuku 165-9 moved down in order of importance – he is not mentioned until the 7th chapter, when he is listed as the maternal grandsire of a bull. But then he is mentioned in the 4 following chapters as either the sire or maternal grandsire of the featured sire. And Yasufuku was listed as the grandsire or maternal grandsire of several of this year’s Wagyu Contest (9th Zenkyo) winners (see below).

4. The Japanese breeders now appear to have moved in the direction of bigger size: the most popular sire of the day is a bull named Hirashigekatsu – a son of Dai 20 Hirashige. Hirashigekatsu dominates the most recent (2007) edition of “Top Cattle”, being the sire of several of the bulls featured in the first 3 chapters.

5. Chapter 2 of the 1999 edition of “Top Cattle” features Dai 7 Itozakura and his progeny and Chapter 3 of the 1999 edition features his son, Kitaguni 7-8. Chapter 4 features Shigeshigenami (maternal sire of Suzutani). Chapter 5 features Dai 20
Hirashige. Chapter 6 features Kikutani (a son of Yasutanidoi). Chapter 7 features Monjiro (sire of Michifuku and grandsire of Sanjirou).


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Winners of the 9th All-Japan Wagyu Contest (as far as I can determine) are:

7th Zone –

First Prize: Gifu Prefecture – Shirakiyo 85-3, sired by Yasufuku (MGS: Yasufuku).
2nd Prize: Hokkaido – Kitakatsufuku 1, sired by Hirashigekatsu (MGS: Yasufuku).

8th Zone –

First Prize: Miyazaki Prefecture – Yasuhirazakura, sired by Yasuhira, grand-sired by Yasufuku.
2nd Prize: Yamaguchi – Fukumimi, grand-sired by Yasufuku (MGS: Hirashigekatsu).

9th Zone –

First Prize: Miyazaki Prefecture – Hyuganokuni, sired by Yasuhira, grand-sired by Yasufuku.
2nd Prize: Miyazaki – Fukunokuni, grand-sired by Kitaguni 7-8 (MGS: Yasufuku).

Farewell to Japan

A bus ride from Noboribetsu (home to many onsen - hot springs) to Sapporo.



A stop for refreshments by lakeside.



A final lunch at the seaside port of Otaru, facing Russia.

Mr Takeda's Green Pastures

Mr. Takeda's pasture where the cows and calves feed in the lush green grass.





Mr. Takeda's prize cow - 24 years old - and pregnant again!



From left to right: Mauro Agustines, Bob Estrin, Shogo Takeda

Noboribetsu - outside Sapporo, Hokkaido

We then traveled from Kyushu (the southern-most island of Japan) to Hokkaido (the northern-most island) to visit Mr. Shogo Takeda and his farm.

Two of his newest bulls - of whom he is assuredly proud.






Mr. Takeda showed us around his pens - there was enough room for the cows to roam from building to building, while rubbing their backs on the two tires hung from the ceiling of the wooden structures. Water was provided to the animals in small amounts, so as not to allow them to swallow too much at a time.

Susuki Wagyu Feast - Grilled A4 Meat

Mr. Susuki treated our tour group to grilled Wagyu - graded A4 - and did a marvelous job as chef. Medium heat, flipping the steaks contantly and serving them up in batches.



Afterwards, he was presented with a thank-you gift, and Namuri (our guide) translated his words.

Then we all posed for a group shot.

Susuki Farm & Feedlot - outside Fukuoka

Visited Susuki Farm - where they feed Australian cattle, primarily from Hammond Farms. Keith and John Hammond were present to help us understand the process - and were quite congenial and warm - as well as forthcoming about their operation and their experience with Wagyu.

Fukuoka, Kyushu - Moji Quarantine Facility

We arrived at the Quarantine Facility at Moji, just outside Fukuoka - extraordinary food safety precautions are followed here with all of the cattle that arrive into the Fukuoka area.

The facility can handle up to 1500 cattle at a time - the animals are kept here for up to 18 days and then another 12 days are needed to clean up afterwards.

We were required to suit up with sanitary uniforms so that we would not bring our germs into the facility.

All countries should be required to follow this protocol - impressive!

Travel from Yonago (Tottori) to Kyoto

Saturday morning the group boarded the bus at 7:30am headed for Kyoto, with a stop at the Machiyo Chucoku Bokyjo (Ranch) - where we were allowed to visit their farm and feedlot. They have about 150 breeding cows and are feeding out another 1500)　give or take a few hundred.

They wean 80% of their calves at 3 months, the remainder at 4 months. Those early weaners are kept in separate pens for about 6 weeks and fed grain and silage. They dehorn their calves at 8 months - if they do it earlier, the horns tend to grow back.

The Japanese feeders pay about $5,000 for a feeder calf (Full Blood Wagyu) and it costs them about another $4,000 US to feed them out. They sell them for about $US 10,000, making a profit of $1,000 per calf at the end of the cycle.

This feedlot is in the Shimane prefecture, so most of these calves are Shimane based - and they look it - they are quite big, as you can see. Some of them have Tajima influence, which can be seen by the short legs -　they are lower to the ground.

The feed consists of corn, soybeans and tofu. They also have an organic fertilizer plant which uses the cow manure and mix it with soybeans, tofu and mushrooms. They slowly let it mulch over a period of 6 months and then sell to other farmers for their fields.

We arrived in Kyoto for a very short stop on our way this afternoon to Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu - where we will visit the Susuki (Suzuki?) farm and feedlot. And then on to the island of Hokkaido where we will visit an onsen (hot baths) and the Takeda operation.

WAGYU PHOTOS - 2