Top 10 most influential Wagyu bulls in Australia
What makes Australia’s top 10 Wagyu bulls so sought after? It’s not just about marbling. See our selections here.
Classed as a national treasure in Japan, Wagyu is often referred to here as the champagne of the beef industry, with prices for the best steaks pushing out to $250/kg.
And while Australia capitalised on securing Japanese Wagyu genetics in the late 1980s and 1990s, the Japanese government were unhappy about it and closed the doors to the export of Wagyu genetics.
It means there has been a big reliance on those original foundation sires, but that is starting to change with Australian-bred sires exerting their influence.
With the introduction of BreedPlan and genomics the genetic gains in Wagyu cattle in Australia have had a meteoric rise in the past decade.
The Weekly Times has analysed BreedPlan data of the most progeny registered with the Australian Wagyu Association to determine the top 10 most influential Wagyu sires currently in Australia.
While all of the current influential bulls are long dead, with their legacy able to live on through semen and embryos, this list explores the key traits that made these bulls so influential.
TOP 10 MOST INFLUENTIAL WAGYU SIRES
1. ITOSHIGENAMI TF148
Itoshigenami, born in 1995, has been described as one of the top three bulls exported from Japan. He has sired 6829 registered progeny, with the most progeny in 2008 at 805 calves registered. The medium-framed bull produces carcasses with fine marbling. He has sired a number of impressive bulls, including Mayura Itoshigenami Jnr and Sumo Itoshigenami C0158.
The bull has an Estimated Breeding Value marble score of +2.3, compared to the breed average of +0.8, -14kg for carcass weight (breed average +15kg) and +3.4sq cm for eye muscle area (breed average of +1.4sq cm).
Peter Gilmour of Irongate Wagyu in Western Australia, a former president of AWA, said Itoshigenami is a “great performer” and you “never get a bad outcome from his progeny”.
2. WORLD K’S MICHIFUKU
Many Wagyu breeders believe Michifuku, born in 1992, is the most influential bull to have left Japan. Michifuku calves have outstanding marbling. He has sired 6133 registered progeny, with the largest number being 7011 in 2008. He has sired from 210 to 380 registered calves a year since then.
The bull has an EBV marble score of +1.5, carcass weight of -8kg and EMA of +7.4sq cm.
Mr Gilmour said Michifuku’s EMA is his “biggest attribute”.
3. ITOSHIGEFUJI TF147
Itoshigefuji, born in 1995, is a larger framed bull and is well-known for producing strong daughters with good milk and temperament. Original bloodlines trace back over 300 years. He has sired 4738 registered progeny, with his most progeny recorded in 2008 with 645 registered calves.
The bull has an EBV marble score of -0.7, carcass weight of +29kg and EMA of -8sq cm.
4. KITATERUYASUDOI J2810 HONGEN
According to genetic experts this bull, born in 1993, is one of the most highly revered for potency in transmitting marble score and marble fineness. Some semen sold for $175 per straw earlier this year. This bull has sired 4287 registered progeny, with the largest number in 2002 with 569 calves recorded.
The bull has an EBV marble score of +1.8, carcass weight of-16kg, and EMA of +2.7sq cm.
5. HIRASHIGETAYASU J2351 HONGEN
Imported from Japan, progeny from this bull, born in 1989, have excellent growth and a balanced frame. An official Japanese progeny test showed at least 80 per cent of his steers would gain A5 grade, the highest given to carcasses in Japan. He has sired 3351 progeny in Australia, with the most number in a given year being 433 in 2002.
The bull has an EBV marble score of -0.3, carcass weight of +35kg and EMA of +0.9sq cm.
6. TF ITOHANA 2
TF Itohana 2, born in 1993 and imported from the US, is known for producing good quality carcasses and good milking ability. Itohana 2 has sired 3255 progeny, with the most progeny in one year being 292 in 2011.
The bull has an EBV marble score of +0.4, carcass weight of +28kg and EMA of -3.3sq cm.
7. ITOZURUDOI TF151
This bull is known for being big — he weighed almost 1100kg. He is known as the best marbling bull of the Fujiyoshi bloodlines and his value was only realised after he died, leaving a limited supply of semen. Born in 1991, Itozurudoi has sired 3050 progeny, with the most in one year being 448 calves in 2006.
The bull has an EBV marble score of +0.5, carcass weight of +26kg and EMA of +3.4sq cm.
8. TF TERUTANI 40/1
TF Terutani, born in 1996, was imported into Australia from master breeder Shogo Takeda by Sumo Cattle Company in 1997. He was a foundation sire for Sumo producing offspring with outstanding carcass weight and females that milk well. Terutani has sired 2245 progeny, with the most in one year being 171 last year.
The bull has an EBV marble score of +0.9, carcass weight of +29kg and EMA of -1.1sq cm.
9. SUMO CATTLE CO MICHIFUKU F126
Sumo Michifuku, born in 2010, and bred by Wagyu pioneers, Sumo Wagyu at Brookfield in Queensland, is considered to be one of the most impressive sires in the western world.
The bull has sired 2194 progeny, with his dominance peaking in 2018 when he sired 891 calves.
His semen has sold for up to $2800. In 2017 at the Elite Wagyu sale, a heifer in utero (four months gestation) from donor Macquarie Wagyu BDWFD2041 and sired by Sumo Michifuku sold for $95,000. At the same sale last year two of Michifuku F126’s daughters sold for huge prices, one for $105,000 and another for $90,000.
The bull has an EBV marble score of +1.6, carcass weight of +22kg and EMA of +7sq cm.
Mr Gilmour said it was exciting to see this newer bull on the list.
“In the past we wouldn’t have known the marbling of an animal until it was slaughtered, now we can determine that before it is marketed because of the accuracy of BreedPlan,” he said.
10. MAYURA ITOSHIGENAMI JNR
Mayura Itoshigenami Jnr, born in 2005, is the foundation sire at Mayura Station, Mount Gambier in South Australia, and is the “backbone” of their branded beef operation.
Sired by the number one bull on this list, Itoshigenami TF148, Jnr is the best carcass sire used in the Mayura herd, consistently grading Ausmeat +9. The bull has sired 2107 calves, with the most in one year being 497 in 2017.
The bull consistently sires record breaking progeny, despite only a small amount of semen or progeny being sold outside of Mayura.
Mayura managing director Scott de Bruin said most of the progeny registered would be from within their herd, as they had made a commercial decision until recently not to release his genetics.
At Mayura’s inaugural sale last year three semen packages from Itoshigenami Jnr averaged $55,333, topping at a world record price of $68,000 per straw. The bull also sired the top-priced $90,000 bull and $70,000 heifer in that sale. In 2019 a daughter, Mayura N1229, sold for $280,000 — she is the highest value heifer of all breeds sold in Australia.
The bull had the highest ranking marbling score EBV in the Wagyu breed for a long time, but it’s a title now taken by a son of his. The bull has an EBV marble score of +3.3, +22kg for carcass weight and EMA of +8.7sq cm.
“He’s the most influential bull in our herd,” Mr de Bruin said.
MORE
LOFTY CLIMATE TARGETS NO POSSIBLE FOR LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY
Join the conversation
Council on the hunt for saleyard operators
Corangamite Shire Council is searching for new saleyard managers at Camperdown, after the previous operators said the site needed “significant” investment.
Read more
The ‘adorable’ new addition to Australia’s sheep industry
They may originally call the Swiss mountains home, but this curious sheep breed is stealing the hearts of Australian breeders.
Read more