Yuriko Maternal Line

    The Yuriko maternal line came to the United States through the Wagyu import program of Japanese Venture Partners (JVP). This breeding program involved a number of maternal lines and several successful bulls including the long-time marbling leader, JVP Fukutsuru 068, and the well-known, heavily used sire, JVP Kikayasu 400. The Yuriko maternal line eventually rose to the top as the elite line of the JVP imports. The prepotency of the line is evidenced by the number of successful sires it has produced. Many of the BR2 bulls originate from the Yurikos. The former #1 Rib Eye and #1 Hot Carcass Weight Sire, Bar R Shigeshigetani 30T, is a product of the Yuriko line. The elite marbling bull, Michiyoshi, was also a product of the Yuriko line. The Yuriko line has also had an impact in Australia through top breeding bulls like Ginjo Marblemax Kitahatsuhi L9, Ginjo Kitaitonami L965 and Ginjo Hatshira K930. This line has had a significant influence within the national Wagyu herd here in the US as many herds have females or herd bulls that trace back to the original import cow, Yuriko. She was a highly influential cow in the breeding programs of Bar R and Crescent Harbor giving the line much credibility. The Yuriko line should be given strong consideration to being added to any breeding program as it has much to offer, particularly outstanding carcass traits, which is what drives the Wagyu breed. 

     As mentioned above, many of the BR2 bulls originate from the Yurikos. This includes the former #1 Rib Eye and #1 Hot Carcass Weight Sire, Bar R Shigeshigetani 30T. On the 2017 WSU Sire Summary, 30T currently ranks 29th for Marbling, 2nd for Rib Eye Area, 1st for External Fat, and 5th for fullbloods on Hot Carcass Weight. Bar R Shigeshigetani 30T has had success as a sire of sons also with his popular heterozygous polled son Bar R 52Y seeing extensive use around the world. At the Robbins Island Wagyu program in Tasmania, 30T son 52Y is averaging an impressive 8.5 MS, 476 kg (1,047 lbs.) HSCW, and 106 cm2 (16.43 in2) EMA on 238 carcasses. 

     The well-known Michiyoshi has established a reputation for high IMF with huge REA in the USA. He is a Sanjirou x 068 x Takazakura x TF Kikuhana x JVP 400 x Yuriko. Obviously receiving his marbling and rib eye spe­cialty from 068 and Sanjirou, he is known to have limited growth and low HCW. On the 2017 WSU Sire Summary (F1 data) he ranks 11th for Marbling EPD, 4th for REA EPD, and 24th fullblood on HCW EPD. Marble Ranch in Texas published some information on Michiyoshi in their 2018 sale catalog from within their herd and their carcass camera. On IMF he ranks 2nd only to Kitaguni Jr, he ranks 3rd for REA, and is top 10 for Marble Fineness in the herd. Some of the individual carcass highlights include a Michiyoshi x TF 728 carcass that posted the 3rd highest IMF score they have measured, at 48.85%, along with a 18.26 in2 (117.8 cm2) REA, 1.16 Fineness Index, and 938 lbs. (426.4 kg) HCW. Another Michiyoshi x TF 728 carcass posted a 18.52 in2 (119.5 cm2) REA, 41.72% IMF, and Fineness Index of 1.03, and a 1101 lbs. (500 kg) HCW. Michiyoshi’s full brother, Michiyoshi II, sold in January 2018 for $30,000 to Sexing Technologies. 

     Other highlights from the BR2 program on the WSU Sire Summary and descending from Yuriko herself include Bar R Namikawa 63Y, BR Michifuku 1628, Bar R Ichiro 31R, and Bar R Sanjirou 44K. Bar R Namikawa 63Y ranked 2nd on RFI index in a 2013 performance test of 13 sons of 30T with an ADG of 3.3 lbs. and -2.7 RFI. He also ranks 25th for REA, 7th for External Fat, and 13th fullblood for HCW on the 2017 WSU Sire Summary. BR Michifuku 1628, a Michifuku son from the Yurikos, ranks 16th on Marbling and 28th for REA on the WSU Sire Summary. Bar R Ichiro 31R is a 068 x Michifuku x 001 from the Yuriko line and ranks 4th for Marbling and 22nd for fullbloods on HCW. Bar R Sanjirou 44K is Sanjirou x Blue Rock Haruki x JVP 400 x Yuriko herself who ranks in the middle of the pack at 35th for Marbling. 

     In Australia at the Ginjo Wagyu program, maternal descendants of Yuriko are producing great growth and are currently in progeny test awaiting carcass results. These include Ginjo Hatshira K930, Ginjo Marblemax Kitahatsuhi L9, and Ginjo Kitaitonami L965. K903 is a Kitahatsuhi son from a B901 dam and he offers breed leading growth EBVs with high reliability over 70%. To go along with this, he sports a high, top 1% Self Replacing Index of $218! L9 is a Kitahatsuhi x 001 x 003 with high growth EBVs and a $204 SRI. L965 is a Westholme Kitaitonami x 002 Itomoritaka, a promising combination of breed leading marbling and growth. This is a unique group of young sires from the Yuriko maternal line with a promising future. 

     In the Mayura Station herd, Mayura Hertige has some solid early progeny test numbers. He is a Michifuku x TF 148 x TF 151 x TF 150 x Itomichi 1/2 x Yuriko. In the Mayura progeny test he is averaging a 8.75 MS, 419.9 kg (923.8 lbs.) HSCW, and 88.5 cm2 (13.72 in2) EMA at the 10th/11th rib across 4 carcasses. This is all at only 300 days on feed and 26 months at slaughter. Another Yuriko in the progeny test program here is Mayura L0048, a Shigeshige­tani x TF 148 x TF 151 x TF 150 x Itomichi 1/2 x Yuriko. 

      These sires show the strong potential his maternal line possesses from established breed leading sires like Bar R Shigeshigetani 30T and Michiyoshi to promising young sires such as Ginjo Katshira K930 and Mayura L0048. Females from this line are in demand around the world and sold in our 2018 Synergy Sale for $20,000, $22,000, $23,000, and $26,000.