In 2014, prior to our production sale we felt that we had enough data to publish the results of our ongoing study, which we called the 2014 Lone Mountain Sire Performance Study. That study was based on images captured from 148 carcasses. Utilizing Dr. Keigo Kuchida’s software – the same software used by the Japan Meat Grading Association (JMGA), we ranked by Marbling percentage (IMF%), the sires and dam sires that we had used to produce the steers and a few heifers. We also ranked the sires as graded by the USDA graders at the abattoir in Omaha – and by Ribeye Area (REA) and Carcass Weight.
It was a start. Now after seven years and several iterations, we are proud to publish the continuation of that study with a few changes. First, and foremost, we now have data on more than 1,550 carcasses studied – each analyzed by Dr. Keigo Kuchida’s carcass camera and software – adding significantly to the level of accuracy. In addition, we have tested over 120 different sires and 135 different dam sires. We hope that the data provided by our rigorous data collection proves helpful to our fellow breeders in bringing out the best of this marvelous breed.
WKS Yasufuku Jr and WKS Kitaguni Jr occupied the two top spots for Marbling as both Sires and Dam Sires in 2017. Those two sires simply outperformed all other sires. Fast forward to 2019, no less than eight (8) LMR-bred sires outperformed those two foundation bulls – even though WKS Kitaguni Jr had sired 87 imaged offspring and WKS Yasufuku Jr another 60. It should be noted that in 2017, both Kitaguni and Yasufuku, were still the top 2 Dam Sires for IMF% – having led in that category since 2014.
But by December 2021, those two Foundation Bulls have moved farther down to 2nd and 6th place, in the rankings of Dam Sires – and rank in the 9th and 12th positions as sires. Lone Mountain now has detailed data on 95 Yasufuku and 115 Kitaguni progeny as sires –- with 105 Yasufuku and 102 Kitaguni progeny as dam sires.
Topping the Marbling rankings as Sire, Kimtofuku TF813 (Shogo Takeda’s bull), has risen to #1 with 18 carcasses studied, followed closely LMR Daisuke 2470Z and LMR Shichiro 2403Z. Ranking #1 as Dam Sire is LMR Aochi 2468Z, with 12 images studied.
The 2nd and ranked Sire for marbling, LMR Daisuke 2470Z, is sired by Kitaguni Jr with a dam descending from WKS Michifuku. The bull holding the #3 spot, LMR Shichiro 2403Z, is sired by WKS Shigeshigetani out of a dam by WKS Kitaguni Jr. The #1 Dam Sire, LMR Aoichi 2468Z, is sired by Itoshigenami TF148 out a dam by WKS Michifuku. Lone Mountain remains devoted to the Foundation Sires in our program, though we have moved recently on to the Australian sire Mayura Itoshigenami A0139 and his descendants. We are looking forward to the carcass data, forthcoming shortly.
The Marble Fineness Ranking, introduced in 2017, is a very important trait to watch when raising Wagyu for beef – according to polling, coarse marbling is not what the customer wants to see in the ribeye. The top ranked Sire in 2017 was LMR Akahige 8199U – with LMR Yojimbo ranked fourth. LMR Sensei 817T took over the top slot in 2019 and in the 2021 Lone Mountain Sire Performance Study remains the #1 ranked Sire in that category (albeit with few numbers of progeny imaged). Following closely behind is Kimitofuku TF813 and LMR Hiroyuki 3492A. BM Hikoshigefuji Y342 (David Blackmore’s bull) tops the Dam Sire listing for Marble Fineness.
Of interest, as well, is the ranking of sires by the USDA Grade – we have seen and continue to see quite a divergence of animals when ranked by the subjective USDA Grading – to Lone Mountain, the recognition of the importance of actual, objective imaged and studied carcass data as calculated by computer software is paramount. Note that Kimitofuku TF813 carcasses (the #1 Marbling Sire) graded by the USDA is ranked 10th and LMR Daisuke 2470Z (2nd highest in IMF% as imaged by Kuchida’s camera) ranks 24th in the USDA Grading system out of the top 25 Sires.
We have included the Standard Deviation (STDEV) in the IMF% table. STDEV is the average deviation from the mean. The higher the standard deviation number, the more divergent the results are and thus, to an extent, less meaningful. A low STDEV makes for a consistent outcome.
This study is the sole property of Lone Mountain Cattle Company. Any reproduction of the data should be attributed appropriately.
Intramuscular Fat Percentage (IMF%) is the amount of marbling in the ribeye as a percentage of total meat surface area, as measured objectively by Dr. Kuchida’s Carcass Camera. Standard Deviation (STDEV) indicates the amount to which the samples deviate from the average IMF% – thus, a smaller STDEV indicates the IMF% of samples of a sire are closer to that average IMF%. Sires with 5 or fewer samples are omitted.
Current SIRE rankings at Lone Mountain Cattle for Carcass Quality Assessment (Intramuscular fat (IMF%) calculated with the Japanese Carcass Imaging Camera)
Current DAM SIRE rankings at Lone Mountain Cattle for Carcass Quality Assessment (Intramuscular fat (IMF%) calculated with the Japanese Carcass Imaging Camera)
Marble Fineness EBV (Marbling Fineness Index) is an estimate of the genetic difference in the Marbling Fineness Index (degree of fineness of marbling fat) as measured by the Japanese digital image camera. Sires with higher EBVs are expected to produce progeny with higher levels of marbling fineness.
Not only does the camera identify traits that hold economic importance, it also measures traits such as fineness / coarseness of marbling that can influence greatly the value of the carcass which is depicted below in the two images.
The focus of this trait has been of particular interest to the Japanese and is now increasingly being identified as animportant characteristic to those countries producing Wagyu outside Japan. We here at Lone Mountain evaluate and assess the Fineness Values of our genetics in our breeding program and whole heartily believe the eating quality attributes (texture, flavor, juiciness and palatability) of Wagyu beef is highly correlated. As such, we incorporate both the raw and the calculated observations in our carcass assessment.
Below is a table of our slaughter data illustrating the phenotypic or “raw” fineness value (as determined by the Beef Analyzer II software) of the Sires used in the Lone Mountain meat program.
Current SIRE rankings in the Lone Mountain Meat program for Marble Fineness (MF).
Current DAM SIRE rankings in the Lone Mountain Meat program for Marble Fineness
Affixed by USDA reps at the time of fabrication, Ribeye Eye Muscle Area (REA) is a measure of ribeye size, and thus, the greater the REA, the greater the yield of meat.
Current SIRE Rankings in the Lone Mountain Meat program by REA
Current DAM SIRE Rankings in the Lone Mountain Meat program by REA
Affixed by USDA reps at the time of fabrication, USDA (marbling) Grading Scores range from SM (Small) to VAB (Very Abundant), with ranges in each quality from 0-100 The full breakdown of potential USDA Scores follows, and for purposes of averaging, we have transposed these USDA scores to numbers.
Current SIRE rankings in the Lone Mountain Meat program by USDA Grade
Current DAM SIRE rankings in the Lone Mountain Meat program by USDA Grade
Carcass Weight EBV (kg) estimates the genetic difference in a standard AUS-MEAT carcass weight at an age of 750 days. This is an AGBU adjusted Days of Age value that allows animals to be compared on a “level playing field”. More positive EBVs indicate heavier carcass at a given age.
Current DAM SIRE rankings in the Lone Mountain Meat program by Carcass Weight.
Current DAM SIRE rankings in the Lone Mountain Meat program by Carcass Weight.