The U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) Director in Japan Tommy Hamamoto visited local feed millers and Wagyu cattle producers this month to promote the use of U.S. corn in their feed rations.

Wagyu cattle are predisposed to intense marbling, which means they produce cuts of meat that are more likely to receive higher quality grade scores.

“Japanese Wagyu producers are now competing with U.S. beef producers on the global market,� Hamamoto said. “Because of this, they are looking to decrease production costs, which may create an opportunity for U.S. corn.�

One way for Japanese beef producers to reduce their production costs is to form a cooperative. During Hamamoto’s tour of the beef production area in Japan, he visited a beef feedlot that is owned by the Japanese Agricultural Cooperative (JA), where he learned about their use of U.S. corn.

“By forming this cooperative, JA has lessened the financial burden on Wagyu raising farmers,â€� Hamamoto said. “This is an example of one Japanese cooperative’s efforts to make livestock production more cost efficient.â€�

Click here to learn more about the Council’s efforts in Japan.