Wagyu beef originates from Japan and is considered by many the best beef on the planet. With the name meaning “Japanese Cow” (wa = Japanese, gyu = cow), it can be found in four different types of Japanese cattle.
Argentine beef is widely regarded as the best beef globally, with its grass-fed and hormone-free farming methods resulting in leaner, healthier, and more flavorful meat.
Australia is the largest producer of Grass-Fed beef on the planet and produces some of the world's best Grass-Fed and Grass-Finished beef, including flavor-packed Australian Grass-Fed Wagyu beef.
Angus Cattle
Angus beef has become all the rage in recent years thanks to its well-marbled meat, which typically earns Prime or Choice grades from the USDA and is usually the highest-quality meat available in grocery stores.
Because Kobe beef exemplifies everything that makes Wagyu better! It is considered the most abundantly marbled beef in the world. To be labelled Kobe, cattle must meet stringent standards upon slaughter. Due to these stringent standards, only 3,000 head of cattle qualify as authentic Kobe cattle each year.
One of the main reasons for the high cost of Wagyu beef is the limited land available for cattle in Japan. Wagyu cattle are bred in a specific area, and the limited land available cannot accommodate the large number of cattle that would be needed to lower the cost.
Australian Wagyu is a breed of beef that has been developed for the Australian market. They are genetically linked to the Japanese Wagyu breed, but are raised in Australia, where they are fed a diet of grain and hay.
That's because, no matter the grade, Kobe beef is considered the best your money can buy. Expect to pay more as the grade goes up, with most A-grade Kobe beef costing $300 or more per pound.
The Daily Mail explains that the winning sirloin is an A4 grade, also known as Akune Gold, and considered an ultra-premium steak. The cow was raised on the subtropical island of Kyushu, which, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization, is home to cows that produce this ultra-premium form of Wagyu beef.
The first three quality grades — Prime, Choice and Select — are the most commonly recognized by consumers and are considered food-grade labels by USDA.
Japanese Wagyu beef is ultimately the most delicious type of beef in the world. It has a better texture and taste than Australian one. But, Australian Wagyu has its worth as it is about 95% of the original Japanese Wagyu beef. However, both the Wagyu beef, Australian and Japanese, are in demand because of purity.
NAB economist Phin Ziebell said there were several factors behind the price drop, including an oversupply of cattle in Australia. "What's happened is, we had the drought, we had the herd rebuild, the herd rebuild is done," Mr Ziebell said. "We've had these really great three years, three wet years.
The rib eye steak is one of the most beloved, flavourful, and tender cuts of beef both here in Australia and around the world. It is also known as the rib fillet or the scotch fillet steak, depending on where you go.
2/ Australian beef is packed full of flavour (and nutrition)
In Australia, around 97% of cattle is grass fed thanks to our plentiful grazing pastures. Many steak aficionados prefer the taste of grass-fed beef as it tends to be more flavoursome and has a classic “meaty” profile.
Japan's "top three" wagyu brands — specifically Matsusaka Ushi, Kobe Beef, and Ohmi Beef — all hail from the Kansai region of Japan. While their bloodlines all trace their origins to Tajima beef, a subspecies of Japanese Black cattle from Hyogo Prefecture, each of these wagyu brands boasts a unique flavor profile.
Brazil is expected to remain the largest beef exporter with beef production increasing slightly in 2023.
Not surprisingly, the most expensive meat in the world — the Kobe beef A5 Wagyu Tomahawk — is also the highest quality of beef. Only a specific type of cattle from a certain region of Japan are selected to make Kobe beef, according to Ventured.
Wagyu from Japan is often held up as the best beef in the world. The meat is tender as the night. It's so soft, steak knives are optional. Its marbled fat dissolves into a buttery flavor so rich it could retire to Florida.
The cows are often raised by the breeder until 10 months old and then sold to a fattening farm. There they are kept in small farms and fed a mix of fibre and high energy concentrate made from rice, wheat and hay until the animal is 50% fat. The feed is expensive, which contributes to the price.
Wagyu beef is extremely rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and contains all of the essential amino acids, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Essential fatty acids such as these are believed to lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer's and other conditions.
Cut from the tenderloin, which is a lean and tender section of the cow, the coveted fillet has a high marbling content. Another reason for its desirability is that it is less abundant in supply than other cuts of beef. Keep it simple and cook on a hot, dry pan no further than medium rare.
It is estimated that 95 per cent of all wagyu produced in Australia is Crossbred wagyu, and only 5 per cent is Fullblood wagyu.
Australian Wagyu usually gets a 6 score. In comparison, Japanese Wagyu is world famous for its high levels of marbling. Japanese Wagyu is graded according to the Japanese Beef Grading System. This system looks at yield from A to C, beef quality from 1 to 5 and a beef marble score from 3 to 12.
The Australian wagyu features the best of both worlds, in both flavor and texture.