If you’ve ever looked into purchasing Wagyu beef, you’ve probably heard of A5 Wagyu beef. Chances are, you’ve probably heard it’s the best version of Wagyu.
The real question you should be asking yourself is how do we determine what the best Wagyu beef is? Depending on where you get your meat from, you’ll have different Wagyu grading systems to work through. If you’re getting authentic Japanese Wagyu beef, you’ll see Wagyu beef grades put out by the Japanese Meat Grading Association.
If you’re looking at American Wagyu (or really any beef that comes from the United States of America,) you’ll see the good old U.S. Department of Agriculture’s grading system used to give out wagyu grades. If you’re purchasing Australian Wagyu, the beef grading will be done under Meat Standards Australia which is handled by Meat and Livestock Australia. Overwhelmed yet?
So depending on where your Wagyu beef is raised and slaughtered, there are three different Wagyu grading systems you’ll want to understand. Let’s break them down so the next time you want to enjoy the incredible tenderness and marbling that is Wagyu, you’ll understand what you’re looking at no matter what letters, numbers, or other designation is on the package.
Why Do We Have Wagyu Grading Systems?
When you go to the store, whether you’re looking for a value cut of meat or a steak worthy of a special occasion, you want to know that you’re getting the level of quality you expect.
When it comes to the price level of Wagyu, you want to make darn sure that you are getting beef that is worthy of all the great things that the name Wagyu suggests. So the countries that produce Wagyu have grading scales that express the quality of beef that customers will receive.
One of the most important parts of every grading system is the Beef Marbling Score.
What Is The Beef Marbling Score?
Beef Marbling Score, or BMS, is an international grading system that grades meat based on the level of intramuscular fat in a cut of meat. It helps normalize the differences between different grading scales that individual countries use. It is a scale of 1 to 12 with 12 being the highest quality and amount of marbling in a cut of meat.
What Is The Japanese Wagyu Grading System?
Arguably the most iconic Wagyu grading system is the Japanese system governed by the Japanese Meat Grading Association or JMGA. The JMGA uses a grade consisting of a letter and a number to convey the quality of Japanese Wagyu beef. The letter grade refers to the yield of high-quality beef from a cow versus its body weight while the number corresponds to a range on the BMS.
When the JMGA assigns a meat quality grade for Wagyu, they’re taking a sample of the beef carcass and look at things like the meat color, the fat color, and the firmness and texture of the meat.
| Letter Grade | Yield |
| A | 72% and higher |
| B | 69-71% |
| C | Less than 69% |
| Number Grade | BMS Score |
| 5 | 8-12 |
| 4 | 5-7 |
| 3 | 3-4 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 1 | 1 |
Now let’s circle back to the introduction and the iconic A5 Japanese Wagyu designation. Based on the JMGA’s grading scale, any piece of A5-graded Wagyu comes from a Japanese cow that is going to yield at least 72% of its body weight in high-quality meat and has at least an 8 on the marbling scale. That’s going to be an incredible piece of meat to eat. It will have an incredibly tender texture that leads most people to say Wagyu meat melts in your mouth and has an almost buttery flavor.
Now does a lower grade mean you’re getting a terrible cut of meat? Absolutely not. You can still enjoy some delicious Wagyu beef even if it’s A1 Wagyu or lower. However, you don’t want to pay A5 Wagyu prices for something that doesn’t match up. Understanding the grading system will help you make the best decision with your money.
What Is The American Wagyu Grading System?
Things are a bit trickier in the United States of America when it comes to American Wagyu in general, much less grading the quality of the beef. Whether the cattle is a crossbreed between Angus and Wagyu cows and is around 50% Wagyu or whether the cow is still one of the few full-blood Wagyu cattle in the USA, it’s all labeled as American Wagyu.
You’ll still get an incredible cut of meat, but you aren’t sure if you’re getting the full Wagyu experience or only half of it.
Then in terms of grading the quality of the meat, it’s still the same grading scale that all beef in the US is under. That’s right, American Wagyu and Angus cattle can both be graded USDA Prime. The USDA makes no distinction between beef that is a 5 on the BMS versus a 12. So make sure you’re using your eyes when you’re evaluating American Wagyu.
What Is The Australian Wagyu Grading System?
Now the Australians have some similarities to the Japanese when it comes to Wagyu rating. While you won’t find a letter grade, you will find Australian Wagyu rated on BMS. It might be shortened to MS, but it’s the same idea. One of the only real differences is that Australia is concerned with differentiating between 1-9 on BMS. Once Wagyu hits at least a 9, they are not concerned with grading differently between a 9 and a 12. Typically that will show up as simply a 9+ on the MS.
Chances are, if you find a cut of Australian Wagyu that has a 9+ MS, you’re getting something pretty darn close to A5 Japanese Wagyu.
Wrapping It Up
When it comes to buying Wagyu beef, you’ll want to know what the different grading systems mean. The Japanese system is the most detailed so you will have a very good idea of exactly what you’re getting if you purchase true, authentic Japanese Wagyu. While the Australian system might not be as detailed, you still have quite a good idea of what level of quality beef you’re getting based on the MS rating.
You know that you’ll get a good piece of meat with a USDA Prime American Wagyu cut, but you aren’t going to be as sure just how good it will be versus meat graded by the Japanese or Australian system.
We have more information about the different types of Wagyu cattle across Japan, the US, and Australia and the different steaks you can get in our article all about Wagyu steaks.
Once you’ve made the decision that you want some Wagyu steaks, make sure you check out our review of The Meatery’s Wagyu ribeyes. Hands down, these ribeyes were the best steaks I’ve ever had in my life. Make sure you check out The Meatery for all your Wagyu and high-quality meat needs. Nicholas Fiorentino and his crew have an incredible operation and can deliver meat cross-country or even to other countries.