HISTORY OF WAGYU - OUTSIDE OF JAPAN

 

Wagyu was first exported to the USA in 1976 with the importation of two full-blood wagyu black bulls and two fullblood red wagyu bulls. These four bulls formed the foundation of the “American Wagyu”.

 

For over 17 years, no new Wagyu cattle were allowed out of Japan and the genetic diversity was limited to only the four bulls. In 1993, the first shipment of full-blood wagyu (consisting of two bulls and the FIRST three heifers) were imported into the US. There was heavy opposition coming from the Japanese Wagyu Registry, Japanese Farm Coops, and the Japanese Wagyu Breeders, who were strongly opposed to the exportation.

 

The bulls in that shipment were “Michifuku” and Haruki 2”. The heifers in that shipment were “Suzutani”, “Okutani” and “Rikitani”.

 

Of the three heifers, Susutani and Rikitani were the first 100% Tajima females to leave Japan and the third heifer, Okutani, was a unique individual with Okushige x KitutanixDai 7 Itozajura – being ¾ Tajima and ¼ Fujiyoshi. All three heifers were purchased due to the fact that all had the great sire, Shigeshigenami in their pedigrees.

 

Suzutani is considered the greatest Tajima to ever leave Japan with Okutani being equally as influential. The first full blood Wagyu born in the United States was born in 1994 from an embryo out of Okutani purchased for $50,000. The heifer calf was named Fujiko and was a mating of Okutani and Haruki 2. Fujiko became one of the most influential females of the breed, so influential that her DNA was sold for $26,000 in 2012 at the Texas Wagyu Association sale. Pacific Rogue Wagyu has these exact genetics.

 

In 1993 Pacific Rogue Wagyu (then KG Wagyu) purchased two embryos- Haruki 2 x Okutani and Haruki 2 x Suzutani. Pacific Rogue Wagyu then had the 5th and 11th full-blood wagyu heifers ever to be born in the US.

 

PROMINENT PACIFIC ROGUE WAGYU BLOODLINES 

 

Michifuku

Michifuku is thought by some to be the most important/best carcass bull to ever leave Japan and was formally the #1 marbling bull in the U.S. Sire Summary. He is Yasumi Doi on his sire side and Yasutanidoi J472 on the dam’s side. Yasutanidoi and Yasumi Doi are 2 of the most famous Tajima sires. It should be pointed out that Michifuku’s sire, Monjiro, produced carcasses that sold for $21,000 at the 2007 All Japan Wagyu Competition.

 

Suzutani

Thorough research of the Wagyu breed reveals that Suzutani was the most genetically influential cow to ever be exported from Japan to the United States. She has proven her genetic value through her popular sons, Sanjirou and Shigeshigetani. These deep pedigreed females are the cornerstone of our herd.

Suzutani's mother was Suzunami and her grandsire was Shigeshigenami J10632, who has a reputation for producing the best genetics in Japan. Sanjirou's genetic background suggests that he will have ideal meat production efficiency, with great meat quality, large REA, thick rib and high yield rate.

Haruki 2

Haruki 2 was a balanced combination of the major Wagyu bloodlines, Tajima, Kedaka, Itozakura and Shimane.  Haruki 2 is 56% Tajima, 13% Itozakura, 19% Shimane and 6% Kedaka. Couple this with the fact that he was considered of good enough genetics to breed to arguably the greatest cow in Wagyu history, Suzutani, resulting in that outstanding bull Shigeshigetani.

 

JVP Fukutsuru 068

JVP Fukutsuru 068 is perhaps the most famous Wagyu sire in U.S. history, and certainly the prime example of Tajima bloodlines. He leads all sires in marbling in the 2006 U.S. Wagyu Sire Summary (published by Washington State University), beating all other Wagyu sires by a broad margin. He also headed the previous Sire Summary, published in 2001. Japanese Venture Partners (JVP) imported Fukutsuru 068 into the United States in 1994. 

With these bloodlines and lineage, it is no wonder that Fukutsuru 068 has been proven by Washington State University as the number one marbling bull in the Sire Summary. 

Sanjirou 
Sanjirou has the potential to become one of the most influential sires of the Tajima line, having great meat quality, large ribeye area, thick rib and high yields. In the 2006 U.S. Wagyu Sire Summary, Sanjirou ranks third highest in marbling, behind Fukutsuru 068, but ahead of his sire, Michifuku.