Kobe Beef: $50 Hamburgers!

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Kobe Beef 50 Hamburgers!

• Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
• Ashley Seamon and Dr. Frank Flanders
• March 2006

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Kobe Beef!!!

• Have you ever heard of cattle that
• - Drink beer?
• - Get massages twice a day?
• - Have their hair brushed with specialty liquor
  everyday?

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Kobe Beef!!!

• This is the story of the most pampered and
  expensive cattle in the world! A hamburger from
  this beef sales for 50 or more!

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Lesson Objectives

• Define Kobe Beef
• Outline Kobe Beef history
• Discuss the desirable qualities of Kobe Beef
• Analyze the economic feasibility of Kobe Beef
  production
• Separate the facts from the fiction of Kobe Beef

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Terms

• Sake- Japanese liquor made from fermented rice
• Intermuscling- within the muscle
• Palatability-agreeable to the palate or taste
• Genetics- the science that deals with
  inheritance, also the study of the ancestry of an
  organism
• Hormones- a chemical substance that is produced
  by one tissue and carried to another tissue by
  the bloodstream in order to produce a specific
  effect
• Marbling- the amount of fat intermixed in the
  muscle fibers of meat

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What is Kobe Beef?

• Wagyu is a Japanese breed of cattle that produces
  Kobe Beef. Wa means Japanese and gyu means
  cattle.
• The correct pronunciation of Kobe is Ko-Be as
  in the famous basketball player, Kobe Bryant.
• Kobe Beef is considered to be the most exclusive
  and expensive beef in the world.
• Today, there are only a few farms worldwide
  raising Kobe Beef, with the largest farm having
  no more than 15 animals.

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What is Kobe Beef?

• The cost of Kobe Beef can range in price from 89
  to 300 per pound!
• What is called Kobe Beef comes from the ancient
  Japanese province of Tajima, now named Hyogo
  Prefecture, of which Kobe is the capital.

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Kobe Beef History

• Cattle were first introduced into Japan in the
  second century to provide power for the
  cultivation of rice.
• Since the terrain was so rugged, cattle migration
  was slow and herds were often isolated in small
  areas.
• From 1635 to 1868, the cow herd in Japan was
  officially closed by the mandate of the Shogun.

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The Desirable Qualities of Kobe Beef

• The marbling of Kobe Beef is superior to other
  breeds
• Marbling is intermuscular fat that gives meat
  flavor and tenderness.
• The superior marbling and other qualities
  contribute to the tenderness and palatability
  (taste) of Kobe Beef.

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The Desirable Qualities of Kobe Beef

• Kobe Beef has a high lean to fat ratio.
• Synthetic hormones are not used in the production
  of Kobe Beef.
• Cattle used for Kobe Beef have superior genetics.
  

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Facts and Fiction of Kobe Beef

• BEER
• Beer is given to the cattle during the summer
  months when the interaction of fat cover,
  temperature, and humidity depresses feed intake.
  Beer helps stimulate their appetite.
• MASSAGES
• The massaging is done to relieve stress and
  muscle stiffness. It is believed that the eating
  quality of the meat is affected positively by
  keeping the cattle calm and content.

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Facts and Fiction of Kobe Beef

• SAKE
• Some producers in Japan believe that the haircoat
  and softness of skin are related to meat quality.
  It is believed that brushing the haircoat with
  sake improves the appearance and softness of the
  animal and is therefore of economic importance.

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Economic Feasibility of Kobe BeefWould it be
profitable to produce Kobe Beef locally?

• Considerations
• -Cost of labor
• -Demand for high-priced beef
• -Special feed availability
• -Cost of special feed
• -Availability of slaughter facilities for
  specialty beef

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Did You Know.?

• Did you know that there are restaurants in
  Georgia that sell Kobe Beef products?
• -Kobe Steaks Restaurant, Atlanta, Georgia
• -Carrolton Kobe Steaks Japanese Restaurant,
  Carrolton, Georgia

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Summary

• Kobe Beef is a Japanese breed of cattle that
  produces high quality beef.
• Kobe Beef is among the most expensive beef in the
  world because of the high quality, excellent
  taste, and the cost of production.
• Economic feasibility of the beef is dependant on
  availability of market, cost of feeding and
  labor, and slaughtering facilities.
• Wagyu is the breed of beef cattle raised in Japan
  since the second century.
• Kobe Beef production utilizes some unusual
  production practices such as massages and beer
  diets.

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Study Questions

• 1. What is marbling, and why is it important in
  the Kobe Beef industry?
• 2. Is Kobe Beef economically feasible in Georgia?
  Why or why not?
• 3. Why are Kobe Beef cows given beer?
• 4. True of False McDonalds uses Kobe Beef as
  their hamburger meat.
• 5. If Kobe Beef sells for 100 a pound, how much
  would a quarter-pound of raw meat cost?
• 6. Which of these is not a part of Kobe Beef
  Production
• a. Daily Hair Brushing b. Drinking Beer c.
  Running On The Treadmill d. Massaging Daily
• 7. What famous basketball player shares the name
  of the beef featured?
• 8. Today there are less than ____ Kobe Beef farms
  worldwide.
• 9. What is palatability, and how is it related to
  Kobe Beef?
• 10. What is intermuscling?
• 11. Which of these would be limiting factor of
  producing
• Kobe Beef economically
• a. Water b. Land c. Facilities d.
  Cost of Labor
• 12. Most Kobe Beef farms have less than ___
  animals in a herd.
• a. 15 b. 150 c. 1500 d. 15000
• 13. True or False Only heifers are used for Kobe
  Beef production.
• 14. True or False There are no restaurants in
  the U.S. that use Kobe Beef.
• 15. What breed is used for Kobe Beef?

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Answers

• Flecks or thin strips of fat, especially when
  evenly distributed in a cut of meat. It is
  important in Kobe Beef because it gives the meat
  it flavor and tenderness.
• Answers will vary. Students should be able to
  defend their answer.
• Kobe Beef cattle are given beer to improve their
  appetites.
• False
• 25
• (c.) Running on the Treadmill
• Kobe Bryant
• 300
• Sufficiently agreeable in flavor to be eaten. It
  is related to Kobe Beef because the marbling
  allows the meat to be very palatable.
• Within the muscle.
• (d.) Cost of Labor
• (a.) 15
• False
• False
• Wagyu

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The End