WAGYU BREEDING & GENETICS

The breeding program at Spring-Rock Farm is our strength.

To create a unique beef that your favorite chef can make into a great steak, it takes an initial combination of bovine genes that form 60 chromosomes of a genetically unique animal, plus three years at a farm like ours.

Ladder genetics is defined as “using proven carcass data to seek the best in bulls in each ancestral line, providing higher marbled and tender meat with each generation”. We consider:

• Herd growth statistics
• EPDs when available
• Frame scores
• Related marbling carcass photos

What is important in our breed plan is to balance the four ancestral lines of Black Wagyu:

• Tajira/Tajima – known for their marbling
• Shigenami – known for their larger frame and good nature
• Tottori/Kedaka – known for their larger frame and good nature
• Fujiyoshi – known for improved milk and larger frame

We have strict control with inbreeding, using Wright’s Coefficient of Inbreeding as the benchmark. Our interpretation stipulates that every mating is evaluated by three criteria:

• There should be no common ancestor in the first 4 generations
• Keep the Wright’s Coefficient of Inbreeding statistic below the national breed average of 5.8% H. Neibergs (pdf).
• Continue ancestral pedigree analysis past three generations, going back as far as 15 generations when known