Wagyu Prices per Pound in 2024: What to Expect When Buying

Wagyu beef is one of the most, if not the most, expensive type of beef in the world. It is sought after worldwide and when you go to a restaurant, it’s the most expensive item on the menu. But of course, the question remains, if buying wagyu beef from a wholesaler or a company, how much would a pound cost? What can you expect from buying wagyu beef? Let’s take a look at Wagyu prices per pound in 2024 and what to expect when buying Wagyu beef.

What Is Wagyu Beef?

First and foremost, we should discuss what Wagyu beef is. Wagyu beef, which means Japanese cattle, is the name for beef cattle in Japan. The Japanese cattle were crossbred with European cattle that were imported in the early 1900s and created this hybrid Japanese breed from which Wagyu beef comes. However, there is a purebred Japanese Wagyu strain that has been around for 3,500 years. The Wagyu beef is marbled — fat intertwined with the red meat — and that’s what makes it flavorful and tender. It’s important to know that Wagyu beef is all of the Japanese cattle breeds, which includes Matsusaka, Kobe, Omi, and Yonezawa beef.

Types of Wagyu Beef

There are various types of Wagyu beef. The beef is mainly from Japan, however, it has been exported to other countries, as well. Let’s explore the different types of Japanese Wagyu beef, as well as the international beef that exists today.

Japanese Wagyu

There are a total of four breeds of Wagyu beef that exist today. The Japanese Black Wagyu is made of 90% Japanese beef cattle with several regional strains. The Japanese Brown (also called Japanese Red) is one of the main breeds that is mainly from southern Japan. There is also the Japanese Polled Wagyu, bred mainly in the Yamaguchi Prefecture. Lastly, the Japanese Shorthorn Wagyu that exists mainly in northern Japan. This beef only comprises 1% of Wagyu beef.

There is also Japanese Wagyu that has never been crossbred with other foreign cattle. These Wagyu cattle are native to Japan and are called “pure Japanese breed.” There are only two pure breeds that exist today — Kuchinoshima cattle and Mishima cattle.

International Wagyu

Although Wagyu beef can now be bred almost anywhere. There are four main countries where the breeding takes place at a more robust level. Australia happens to be the largest country where international Wagyu breeding takes place. The United States also breeds Wagyu, but it is cross-bred with American Angus. When that beef is marketed in the US, it is usually referred to as Kobe beef. Canada is another main Wagyu breeder, which has been farmed throughout the country since 1991. Lastly, the United Kingdom is a dominant figure in Wagyu breeding, with the main locations of breeding located in Scotland and North Yorkshire.

Wagyu Prices Per Pound

The pricing around the world seems to be in the vicinity of $200 per pound. Yes, you heard that right. It’s not $20, it’s $200. If you buy it from a vendor (not in a restaurant), you should expect to pay that price. That being said, Wagyu beef is one of the most expensive meats in the world. The Japanese cows can also cost you a pretty penny. It is said that the cows will cost you at least $30,000. That’s per cow!

Why Is Wagyu Beef Expensive?

So the question remains, why is Wagyu beef so expensive? Well, the first component of this process is that the cows in Japan are raised separately in each prefecture. From there, the cows are then sold to a fattening farmer. The cows are fed several times a day for a total of two years. The cows have to be 50% fat to be considered perfect Wagyu beef. This fattening process is costly and drives the price up. This fat has to be top-notch quality and as such, the certification process for Wagyu beef is high. The Japanese government has instructed that Wagyu beef has to be graded from A3 to A5 to be sold. It’s a high grade and therefore, a high cost.

Conclusion

And there you have it, these are the Wagyu prices per pound in 2024. Now you know that if you go to a restaurant, you will have an idea of how much you will pay. Of course, pricing is all relative, as an expensive restaurant will have inflated prices anyway. If you are looking to buy Wagyu beef from a vendor, you have an idea of what to expect when perusing the different companies and websites. Once you make your purchase, make sure you pair that delicious Wagyu beef with a nice Cabernet.