Aside from a select few breeds of cattle, most consumers enjoy their beef without thinking much about the type of beef. Certainly, Angus beef has considerable appeal, and Kobe beef (or wagyu beef in general) is known as a high-quality, high-price item. Beyond that, consumers may be aware of Hereford or Longhorn cattle, but they don’t get particular when looking to satisfy their beef craving.
A group of well-respected Texas beef industry professionals is looking to bring awareness to a new breed of cattle – at least, new to the United States. The Akaushi breed of cattle is a variety of wagyu cattle found in Japan, but the breed has gained a firm foothold in Texas. Domestically, the Akaushi breed and its valuable genetics are controlled by HeartBrand Beef, based in Harwood, Texas. The principals of the company came from the processing side of the beef industry to the marketing side after seeing the potential of the breed.