Matsusaka Wagyu: The Most Expensive Beef in the World

Matsusaka Wagyu is renowned for its extremely low melting point of 12°C, making it a luxurious delicacy. The finest cuts are sold for $530 per 100g in Paris, with the most premium cut, tenderloin, selling for €5,000 per kilogram.

Raising Matsusaka Wagyu

Only virgin female cows are raised on Matsusaka Wagyu farms in Mie prefecture.
Cows are fed a special diet and raised for 30-32 months, 6 months longer than other Japanese black cattle.
The “fattening” period is crucial, with cows eating grass for the first 3-4 months, followed by concentrated feed and rice straw.

Cost and Exclusivity

The cost of feed, temperature control, air circulation, and cleaning drives up the price of Matsusaka Wagyu.
Each year, Matsusaka cows are auctioned off, with prices averaging around 20 million yen.
Exporting Matsusaka Wagyu is heavily regulated, with strict rules and licensing requirements.

Global Demand and Export

Due to declining tourism and changes in consumer behavior, Japanese cattle farmers are looking to export their products.
The export quota for Matsusaka Wagyu has jumped from 24 in 2022 to 700 in 2024, with high-end restaurants like Maria Cana in Paris driving demand.

Key Vocabulary

Term	Definition	Example Usage
Matsusaka Wagyu	A type of luxurious beef known for its low melting point and high quality.	Matsusaka Wagyu is often served in high-end restaurants due to its unique characteristics and high price.
Virgin Female Cows	Female cows that have not given birth, used exclusively for raising Matsusaka Wagyu.	Only virgin female cows are raised on Matsusaka Wagyu farms to ensure the highest quality of beef.
Fattening Period	The time during which cows are fed a special diet to increase their weight and improve the quality of their meat.	The fattening period for Matsusaka Wagyu cows is crucial and can last for several months.
Melting Point	The temperature at which a substance changes from a solid to a liquid state.	Matsusaka Wagyu has an extremely low melting point of 12°C, making it tender and juicy.
Export Quota	The limited amount of a product that can be exported to another country.	The export quota for Matsusaka Wagyu has increased significantly, allowing more of this luxurious beef to be sold abroad.
Tenderloin	A long, narrow cut of beef taken from the short loin section.	The tenderloin is considered the most premium cut of Matsusaka Wagyu and can sell for thousands of euros per kilogram.

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Why Matsusaka Wagyu Is The Most Expensive Beef In The World | So Expensive

Vocabulary Quiz

1. What is notable about the melting point of Matsusaka Wagyu?

A) It has a very high melting point of 50°C
B) It has a moderately low melting point of 20°C
C) It has an extremely low melting point of 12°C
D) It has a melting point that varies greatly depending on the cut

2. Which of the following is a requirement for cows raised on Matsusaka Wagyu farms?

A) They must be male and at least 5 years old
B) They must be raised for exactly 24 months
C) They must be fed only grass and water
D) They must be virgin female cows

3. What is the primary factor driving up the price of Matsusaka Wagyu?

A) The cost of land and labor
B) The cost of feed, temperature control, air circulation, and cleaning
C) The cost of marketing and advertising
D) The cost of transportation and storage

4. What has happened to the export quota for Matsusaka Wagyu from 2022 to 2024?

A) It has decreased from 700 to 24
B) It has remained the same at 24
C) It has increased from 24 to 700
D) It has fluctuated between 100 and 500

5. Why are Japanese cattle farmers looking to export their Matsusaka Wagyu products?

A) Due to an increase in domestic demand
B) Due to a decrease in production costs
C) Due to declining tourism and changes in consumer behavior
D) Due to an increase in government subsidies

Answer Key:

1. C
2. D
3. B
4. C
5. C

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Present Simple and Present Perfect Tenses to Describe Habits, Facts, and Recent Changes

The present simple tense is used to describe habits, general truths, and facts, as seen in the text: “Matsusaka Wagyu is renowned for its extremely low melting point of 12°C” and “Cows are fed a special diet and raised for 30-32 months.” On the other hand, the present perfect tense is used to describe recent changes or developments that have an impact on the present, such as “The export quota for Matsusaka Wagyu has jumped from 24 in 2022 to 700 in 2024.” Understanding the difference between these two tenses is crucial for effective communication. The present simple is often used with adverbs like “always,” “usually,” and “often” to describe habits, while the present perfect is used with “already,” “just,” and “yet” to describe recent actions or changes.

Grammar Quiz:

1. By the time I arrived, they ____________________ their project for three months.

have been working on
are working on
were working on
had worked on

2. The company ____________________ its production costs due to the economic downturn.

has reduced
has been reducing
reduces
is reducing

3. Matsusaka Wagyu ____________________ for its extremely low melting point of 12°C.

is renowned
has been renowned
was renowned
is being renowned

4. The export quota for Matsusaka Wagyu ____________________ significantly over the past two years.

has jumped
is jumping
jumps
jumped

5. By next year, the company ____________________ its new product line for five years.

will have been launching
has been launching
will launch
launches

Answer Key:

1. had been working on

2. has reduced

3. is renowned

4. has jumped

5. will have been launching