Wagyu?
A MESSGAE FROM BILL KURTIS
FOUNDER OF TALLGRASS BEEF
I started Tallgrass Beef Company to raise cattle the way they were meant to be raised. As a result, we have a process that’s better for the animals and the planet, and products that are better for dinner and for you. That’s success in my book. If you haven’t already experienced Tallgrass Beef, I invite you to try it and see for yourself why we say it’s America’s finest beef.
Tallgrass beef is proud to introduce its exclusive Wagyu Beef program, our cattle are raised according to strict protocals by some of the top natural Wagyu ranches in the USA. Our experience in processing and flexible customized craft processing gives you more options, for hand cut steaks to mouth watering
craft grinds.
The meat from Wagyu cattle is known worldwide for its marbling characteristics flavor, tenderness, and juiciness.
Tallgrass’s Wagyu Beef is raised on a natural diet, free of hormones and antibiotics. Wagyu is also higher in a fatty acid called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Wagyu beef contain about 30% more CLA than other beef breeds – due to higher linoleic acid levels. Foods that are naturally high in CLA have fewer negative health effects. It also has a significantly greater percentage of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid than typical beef.
What is Wagyu?
Wagyu means “Japanese cow” is any of four Japanese breeds of beef cattle. In several areas of Japan, wagyu beef is shipped carrying area names. A few examples are Kobe beef, Mishima beef, Matsusaka beef, Sanda beef, Ōmi beef, and Yonezawa beef.
Wagyu animals were exported to the USA between 1976 and 1997. Upon realization of their value, Japan banned further exportation of these animals. Wagyu takes steak to another level.
The name Kobe is reserved exclusively to describe the Wagyu cattle breed that has been raised in the Kobe region of Japan for more than 1800 years. Hence, any Wagyu cattle raised outside of Kobe must go by the names Wagyu or Kobe-style. Wagyu is beyond “Prime.” Traditional beef producers strive for a USDA quality grade of Prime. Only 5% of U.S.-produced beef achieves this grade. About 90% of Wagyu beef will grade USDA Prime, far beyond the traditional USDA Prime.
The steers and heifers are typically weaned at approximately 6 months of age and started on silage, hay, and a 42 megacalorie ration. Then every 3 months the ration goes up until they reached 62 megacalorie ration for a year or more.
We harvest most our Wagyu’s after they have been on a high megacalorie ration for a minimum of 400 days. The ration consists of 70 to 80 % corn supplemented by Alfalfa hay and silage.