Akiko Materrnal Line

The Akiko maternal line is world renown in the Red Wagyu/Akaushi industry. Why, you may ask? This incomparable cow has become one of the most influential females in the breed and can be found in an astonishing amount of pedigrees through either the maternal or paternal side. Akiko is often referred to as “the queen of the breed” by some because of her ability to produce progeny that perform in all facets, growth, milk, conformation, and of course exceptional marbling. MTA Akiko was imported in 1994 by Englewood (Al and Marie Wood) along with the 2nd Mannet (World K’s Group) shipment of Black Wagyu. Bred to Dai 10 Mitsumaru before export, she calved once in the United States, producing the 1st known fullblood Red Wagyu born outside Japan. 

That calf became the legendary sire Big Al (HB Big AL Q502), although he is far from the only progeny Akiko would go on to produce. Akiko now has 35 registered offspring with the Australian Wagyu Association and 26 with the American Wagyu Association. Among these were males and females in the Heartbrand and Englewood programs. Some prominent sires from Akiko are the above-mentioned Big Al, TWA Kotsukari, Heartbrand Red Star, Academy Red Wagyus Tambo H18, Sumo Cattle Co Tamamaru K406, IWG Rueshaw 74Z, Heartbrand Brady 2627A, and Heartbrand Come and Take It to name a few past, and present. Akiko has worked her wonders on the female side too, making donor dams and prominent matriarchs in TWA Shichikari, TWA Kikan, TWA Majiru, RWA Yellow 16, Kalanga Hikakiko QW9, Kinto VW80, and of course the well-known Heartbrand Z1118P “Z cow”. This roster of progeny has cemented Akiko’s position as “queen” through their performance around the globe. 

Akiko herself has Breedplan EBVs that put her in the elite growth category, at +22 200D Weight, +32 400D Weight, +50 600D Weight, and +43 Mat Cow Weight. To go along with these monstrous figures, she is +5 Milk and +39 Carcass Weight. Although Akiko only has merely average Carcass EBVs, this can be  attributed to a lack of data, as she no progeny data recorded in Breedplan. Her 35 registered progeny in Australia are highlighted by her son HB Big Al Q502, at an amazing +232 TCI, and 3 Hikari daughters sitting over 100 TCI.

Akiko son HB Big Al 502 is sired by Dai 10 Mitsumaru, who it can be noted has also sired breed greats in Hikari and Kaedemaru. Big Al has been one of the most extensively used sires in the breed, he has 109 registered offspring in Australia Wagyu Association and 144 registered offspring in the American Wagyu Association. Known to be one of the best all-round sires ever, Big Al has elite Breedplan EBVs despite limited data with only 5 progeny analyzed from 4 herds. As expected, Big Al excels in growth with a line of +27 200D Wt, +45 400D Wt, +73 600D Wt, and +60 Mat Cow Wt. He transmits the trademark maternal and fertility traits with +9 Milk and +5.1 Scrotal Size. With only 2 scan progeny on his resume, his carcass traits are limited in reliability but he is +65 Carcass Wt, -.2

Marble Score, and +0.05 Marble Fineness. Big Al’s Heartbrand EPDs have him at the top of their herd in every category. On growth EPDs he is among the highest at +17.97 Weaning Weight and +36.27 Yearling Weight. His maternal trait EPDs are +32 Milk and -2.42 Calving Ease Maternal. Finally, Big Al’s Carcasses are producing elite Heartbrand EPDs as expected at +0.77 Intra Muscular Fat, one of the highest ranking for their sires.

A common measure of success for any given maternal line is the rate at which they produce high ranking and elite sires. This is one area the Akikos are certainly leading in. Other than Big Al, there are numerous Akiko maternal line sires seeing success including TWA Kotsukari, Heartbrand Red Star, Academy Red Wagyus Tambo H18, Sumo Cattle Co Tamamaru K406, IWG Rueshaw 74Z, Heartbrand Brady 2627A, and Heartbrand Come and Take It to name a few. When mated to Hikari, Akiko produced TWA Kotsukari, who has elite growth and milk Breedplan EBVs on 41 analyzed progeny. Akiko crossed with Shigemaru made Heartbrand Red Star who has his own set of elite growth EBVs on 26 progeny with Breedplan. Heartbrand’s Come and Take it is sired by a Hikari son of Marunami (Heartbrand H0518E) and out of Akiko (Note: Come and Take It is not registered with the American Wagyu Association). He has some of Heartbrand’s highest growth EPDs at +19.03 Weaning Weight and +36.11 Yearling Weight, however he suffers on carcass quality with a low Intra Muscular Fat EDP. A hallmark of a premium matriarch, Akiko has displayed the ability to directly produce elite sires from a variety of matings in Big Al, Kotsukari, and Come and Take It.

Akiko’s grandsons and further maternal descendants are seeing success in a variety of programs around the world for Heartbrand Cattle, Sumo Wagyu, Idaho Wagyu Genetics, Academy Wagyu, and more. In America Akiko sire IWG Rueshaw 74Z is seeing success. He is a Rueshaw x Shigemaru x Big Al x Tamamaru out of MTA Akiko. He now has 79 registered offspring with the American Wagyu Association. On the 2017 WSU Sire Summary 74Z is producing nice quality carcasses and with a Marbling EPD of +0.08, Rib Eye Area EPD of +0.56, External Fat EPD of -0.03, and Hot Carcass Weight EPD of -25.70 all on 16 carcasses. Another next generation Akiko sire is Sumo Cattle Co Tamamaru K406. K406 has elite Breedplan EBVs for growth as well as being +30 for Carcass Weight. For carcass quality he is better than average for a Red Wagyu with a Marble Score EBV of -.02. K406 is a Tamamaru x Big Al x Shigemaru x Akiko, a well balance and solid sire stack. Academy Red Wagyus Tambo H18 is son of The Wright Wagyu Tambo E161 out of a Big Al x Shigemaru x Akiko. He is proving himself with elite growth EBVs and a +37 Carcass Weight EBV on 11 progeny analyzed thus far. In the Heartbrand program the bulls Brady and Come and Take It are now available (Note: Come and Take It is not registered with the American Wagyu Association). Brady 2627A is a Rueshaw son of one of Heartbrand’s best cows: known as the “Z” cow, she is a Rueshaw x Akiko. Therefore, Brady is a double bred Rueshaw out of Akiko. Brady has solid Heartbrand EPDs for growth, maternal traits, and marbling. He is an outcross sire without any Shigemaru, Tamamaru, or Hikari in his pedigree.

The success of these sires in a variety of programs around the globe is the perfect illustration of this maternal line’s unique ability to transmit success!

On the female side, the Akiko maternal line has produced many prolific donor dams. They have been successful in producing both large numbers of embryos making numerous live offspring, as well as producing success in the individual case with sons possessing EBVs and EPDs that rank at the top the breed. The ability of a cow to flush well or respond well to ET plays an immense role in whether or not a maternal line sees both widespread use and success. This is simply because, it provides more offspring than a cow could normally produce through natural calvings in her lifetime. Therefore with more progeny there are increased opportunities to hit the best genetic combinations, producing superior offspring. You will frequently come across Akiko females with 10 or more registered offspring. A few examples of these fantastic donor dams include the TWA Shichikari cow. She has 9 registered progeny, including 6 female offspring that have combined to produce approximately 26 registered offspring in the USA and Australia. In Australia, Sumo Cattle Co Hinode C157 has impressive breedplan EBVs at +45 Carcass Weight and +146 TCI. She is a Big Al daughter who now has a global influence with 15 registered progeny between the USA and Australia. Hinode’s daughter Gabni Rubi has 20 registered progeny in the US, including active AI sire IWG Rueshaw 74Z.

The all-round excellence of the Akiko maternal line, including carcass traits, growth, milk, fertility, and conformation are the hallmarks of Akiko. Her transmitting ability was proven through sons Big Al, Kotsukari, and Heartbrand Red Star. The females from this line flush well and have produced a promising next generation of sires in many programs around the globe. Continually producing EBV and EPD leaders around the globe, Akiko has cemented her elite status in Akaushi history. Keep your eye on this maternal line as breeders are working with these cows to produce the next generation of legendary sires and donor dams!