What does Wagyu actually mean and why do I pay extra for it?

One of Australia’s largest pizza chains has just released a brand new pizza product. It is the “most indulgent” product it has ever had. The Wagyu Duet is actually two pizzas loaded with Wagyu containing beef products, truffles and camembert cheese, amongst other yummy items. It is selling for $50, making it the single most expensive items on the company’s menu. Apparently it can feed four people easily for around $14 each, making it an affordable treat.

But what is the big deal about this Wagyu thing anyway, and why is a pizza company able to charge this high price for a product containing it?

The fat in Wagyu beef is unique because it is monounsaturated, meaning it is good for us.

The best Wagyu beef has this fat distributed through the muscle in a marble pattern. This makes the meat very tasty and easy to eat. To achieve this effect, the cattle must be grain fed well and for at least 500 days. This compares to the usual of around 150 days for other cattle breeds. The use of so much grain for the Wagyu cattle is partly why Wagyu meat is so much more expensive than other breeds. This will only increase as grain prices increase.

The better the muscle colour and quality fat distribution through the muscle, the higher the Marble Score. The score goes from 1 to 12, although the 12 rating is only ever seen in Japan, the home of Wagyu.

In Australia, the maximum current Marble Score can only be a 9+. Good Wagyu will be rated with a Marble Score between 6 and 9+.

There are several Wagyu breeds, but many consider the Tajima to produce the best meat. The Japanese allowed the Wagyu to be exported out of the country in 1993, but this has since been stopped, so that the purity of the bloodlines can be protected.

In Australia, a Wagyu animal is typically bred with a local cattle breed to produce offspring that have a high marble score as well as be able to grow in our specific conditions. Australia Blackmore (which was started by the original Australian importer) is considered to be one of the best Wagyu labels in the world, outside of Japan, and with our National Livestock Identification Scheme, this is a high achievement for Australia.

So this meat is from special animals that require special care and feeding. Although this is a good part of the higher price that we pay for this product, it is the reputation that really drives the price. This is the reason why this pizza company can charge $50 for their new Wagyu product.

This article has been written by Rachelle Williams, The Green Food Safety Coach.