The traceability number of a Wagyu is like the birth certificate, passport, and CV all in one. It tells you everything you need to know about the meat in your plate. This article explains how to read it.
Where is the traceability number?
All authentic Wagyu meat comes with a 10-digit traceability number. This number should be clearly printed on the packaging of your meat, whether you are a restaurant or a retail consumer. If the number is not there, you should be suspicious of whether the meat is authentic Japanese Wagyu.
How to search a traceability number?
Once the number is located, you can search it in the database managed by the Japanese National Livestock Breeding Center. The database is only in Japanese, but the automatic translation function of Google Chrome does a good job helping you understand most things on the website.
How to read the database?
The photo on the top of this page shows a sample search result. This result gives you a list of important information about the specific animal. Below are the items you should pay special attention to as these factors will most likely influence the taste of the meat:
- Gender of the animal. Heifers and steers are the most common, but more people prefer heifers because of their tender texture and milder taste.
- Age of the animal. By looking at the birth date and slaughter date, you can figure out the vintage of the animal. Younger vintages are more tender while old vintages have a more profound taste.
- How many times the animal has been moved? Each move adds stress to Wagyu, so the fewer times an animal has been moved, the less stressed it was. Stress-free Wagyu meat tastes better!
- How long it has been since the slaughtering? Provided the meat was processed and kept in the right environment, the longer it has been since slaughtering, the more time it has had to develop its flavor (That’s where the idea of beef aging came from!). If given the choice, you should go with an older cut.
Need help tracing Wagyu meat? Get in touch with us, and one of our passionate Wagyu Sommeliers would be happy to guide you through the process.