Meat Sommelier. Wagyu Meister
USA
Western Iowa / part of the Sioux City metro area
Iowa
Feddersen USA Wagyu
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Japanese Black
F1
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Feddersen USA Wagyu is based in Anthon, Iowa and strives to provide the highest quality in Wagyu beef.
Elite beef
Pandemic fast-tracks Feddersen's direct-to-consumer business
ANTHON — What makes a superior steak?Feddersen USA Wagyu is raising the bar with its big wins in the national Triple Crown Steak Challenge. This is helping the Feddersen family accelerate their direct-to-consumer marketing strategy.“Our goal is to produce the best-tasting, 100% Wagyu beef,” said Brad Feddersen, who has raised Wagyu cattle near Anthon with his family since 1997. “We look at every little detail that can have an impact on our cattle’s well-being and performance.”The Feddersen’s plans to sell their hormone-free, antibiotic-free beef directly to consumers and chefs accelerated after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the food-supply chain in the spring of 2020. They’ve been building their e-commerce business through their Feddersen USA Wagyu website at https://ilovewagyu.com, where customers can order beef directly from the farm.There are no shortcuts to producing Wagyu, a Japanese cattle breed known for its superior meat quality. The Feddersens keep their cattle on feed for two years, significantly longer than traditional cattle production, to produce extraordinary marbling.
The Feddersens sell hormone-free, antibiotic-free beef, including cuts like this ribeye steak, directly to consumers and chefs.“The goal of feeding this long is to produce exceptional marbling in the meat,” Feddersen said.Wagyu cattle are descended from draft animals selected for their physical endurance. This selection favored animals with more intramuscular fat cells, which provided a readily available energy source. In the hierarchy of beef, Wagyu’s superior marbling makes it exceptionally tender, savory, flavorful, juicy beef.Feddersen USA Wagyu earned top honors in mid-November 2020 in the Triple Crown Steak Challenge, including the Reserve Grand Champion title, for producing beef with superior flavor, tenderness and health benefits.“The Triple Crown Steak Challenge results verify that all the long hours, hard work, efforts to maintain a healthy environment for the cattle pay off in exceptional meat quality,” Feddersen said.Eliminating the guesswork
The Feddersen family has been building their herd of full-blooded Wagyu cattle since 2017.with great beefThe Triple Crown Steak Challenge goes beyond taste assessments to measure precise, objective scientific valuations of meat quality. This helps consumers know exactly what they’re buying.“The most distinguished people in the meat industry judge this beef,” says Desiree (Desi) Cicale, a director with the American Wagyu Beef Association. “All these tests eliminate the guesswork of determining beef quality.”Feddersen USA Wagyu took top honors in the “Warner Bratzler Shear Force for Tenderness — Fullblood” category (which measures meat tenderness) and the “Fatty Acid Profile for Health Benefits — Fullblood” category, which analyzes the beef’s palatability and health benefits. Feddersen USA Wagyu also scored high in the “Total Lipid Panel Fullblood” category, which reveals how much marbling is in the meat.“Exceptional marbling looks like a blizzard on an ultrasound,” Cicale said. “Fine grains of marbling elevate the taste sensation of the beef and lend a buttery flavor to the meat.”
Brad, Sophie, Dash and Shawna Feddersen raise award-winning Wagyu beef near Anthon, Iowa. Feddersen USA Wagyu recently won a number of awards in the national Triple Crown Steak Challenge.Feddersen USA Wagyu also ranked high in the “Japanese Carcass Camera — Fullblood” category. The high-tech Japanese carcass camera test allows meat to be graded on the Japanese system, which involves quality grades above prime.Not only is Wagyu beef a gastronomic delight, but it’s healthy, too. The monounsaturated-to-saturated fat ratio is higher in Wagyu than in other beef, plus the saturated fat in Wagyu is unique. A large portion (40 percent) is in a version called stearic acid, which has a minimal impact on raising cholesterol levels, reports the American Wagyu Association.“Wagyu takes beef to a whole new level,” said Feddersen’s wife, Shawna. “Is it more expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes. This product is special. It starts with the genetics and continues with the special care the animals receive while on our farm.”Online shopping makes the farm-to-fork connectionThe Feddersens have developed a practical approach since they began feeding Wagyu cattle in 1997 for owners in Texas.“Wagyu are healthy, hardy animals that can handle the heat and the cold, but they need a calm, low-stress environment,” Brad Feddersen said. “Since the cattle are easily spooked by people on foot, we use cutting horses to sort the cattle.”This attention to detail took on a new importance in 2017 when the Feddersens began building their own herd of full-blooded Wagyu cattle. With approximately 300 animals, the Feddersen’s herd is much larger than the typical U.S. Wagyu herd of 10 to 15 animals.“If you enjoy beef, our Wagyu products can heighten your dining experience, whether it’s a steak for your anniversary or ground beef for your favorite comfort food recipe,” Shawna Feddersen said. “I think we all can appreciate simple joys and experiences like having an exceptional meal, especially in these times.”The Feddersens ship their Wagyu beef to buyers across the United States. Nathanael Koch, a customer from the Denver, Colorado, area, says the beef is unlike anything available at the grocery store.“It brings the steakhouse experience right to your home, so you can share it with your family and friends. I appreciate the fact that the Feddersens are entrepreneurs who sell directly to consumers. It’s rewarding to know this beef comes from a family who takes good care of their cattle, their farm and their community.”Mark Gordon, an account manager with Sterling Computers Corp. in North Sioux City, got connected with the Feddersens through a business associate. Sterling Computers now buys Feddersen USA Wagyu as an appreciation gift for their customers and vendors.“While this meat makes a great gift, I like buying it for my family, too,” Gordon said. “It’s fantastic. I’ve been out to the Feddersen’s farm, and you can tell the cattle are well cared for.”All this offers peace of mind.“These are unsettled times, to say the least, so I like the food security that comes from buying beef from someone I know,” Gordon said. “You get really good value for your money, too. I’ve tried a lot of different cuts, and I love the New York strips. If you want to eat really good food and have a reliable, safe food supply, the Feddersens are your family.”Brad Feddersen encourages customers to visit his family’s feedlot in the hills of Woodbury County to learn more about where their food comes from.“We want to build long-term relationships with our customers and create a business that our children can take over someday,” he said. “I hope Feddersen USA Wagyu will help bring people together and make great memories for a lifetime.
Wagyu Cattle Shift Profit Outlook
ANTHON, Iowa (DTN) -- Losing more than $115,000 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic forever changed the Feddersen family's cattle operation, based in rural Anthon, Iowa."My mom (Marge) was bawling at the kitchen table, thinking we were going to lose everything," Brad Feddersen recalled. This happened after a cattle broker failed to pay half of what was owed the family for 30 fullblood Wagyu finished cattle sold March 2020.Marge and Larry Feddersen had years in the cattle business, and there was a lot on the line. The family has fed cattle in the gently rolling hills of northwest Iowa since 1960. Brad joined the cattle operation in the late 1990s, and he was determined not to let this financial setback ruin decades of hard work and the life his parents love."It's something we enjoy doing," said Larry, who has no intention of retiring. "I've done it all my life." Every day at 6:30 a.m., he and Marge, both 81-year-olds, still get up and feed the herd together.COVID SETBACKSThe family had started a shift earlier, launching Feddersen USA Waygu in 2017, a fullblood Wagyu cattle operation. After several years of contract feeding Wagyu-Angus crosses for a Texas rancher they had the background and knew what they were looking for. They sold their first two loads of fullblood Wagyu cattle without issue in January and February of 2020, with each load totaling about 30 head.But as the COVID-19 pandemic began to build, many cattle feeders and ranchers found finances pinched. Producers who only sold live animals, like the Feddersens, were hit especially hard as packing plants and eateries temporarily shut down. As this happened, demand for high-end Wagyu meat largely dried up. So did the open market for Wagyu cattle.That cattle broker, who had paid the Feddersens half up front for 30 head in March of 2020 and took the animals, didn't have enough funds to cover the balance still owed the family. Legal action has been taken by the Feddersens against the broker to recoup the money, but Brad said he doesn't expect restitution."I told Mom and Dad, 'let me handle it,'" said Brad, referring to formulating a recovery plan and reassuring them everything would work out.RECOVERY PLAN DEVELOPEDHis solution was to diversify and grow Feddersen USA Wagyu and make its beef so desirable that robust sales and financial security would follow. His plan had several keys, which read like a "how to" for anyone wanting to get into a high-demand niche market like this.1. Acquire top genetics.2. Implant fullblood Wagyu embryos into surrogate cows owned by area farmers. The goal was to quickly increase herd size in order to sell/harvest 60 head a month instead of 30.3. Adopt a combination of direct and wholesale marketing of meat and cattle. The goal was to have customers prepay for animals before harvest.
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4. Create a sales and promotion website: www.iloveWagyu.com.5. Establish relationships with meat buyers and chefs throughout the country.6. Offer a complete line of branded meat seasonings and grilling accessories.7. And, possibly most important, have a can-do and positive attitude.Today Brad is confident: "We're going to blow this out of the water."WHY WAGYU?Wagyu beef is known for exceptional marbling, tenderness and flavor. The American Wagyu Association (AWA) states the meat is the pinnacle of the beef world. The Feddersens want to be able to cash in on the growing popularity of the high-end product.In a restaurant, it's not uncommon for a 100% Wagyu steak to cost hundreds of dollars. One fullblood market steer can fetch about $14,000 (after grade premiums are included), said Brad Feddersen. That's double the value of a Wagyu cross and several times more than other breeds.A report released in December 2021 by Market research company Technavio (see the report here: www.technavio.com/report/Wagyu-beef-market-industry-analysis) indicated Wagyu beef market share would increase $2.4 billion worldwide from 2020 to 2025.Daniel Levine, director of The Avent-Guide Institute, a trend consultancy in New York City, agreed that Wagyu is definitely growing in popularity despite the higher price and even the recent downturn in the U.S. economy."First of all, when people taste it, it's like nothing they've ever had before. It's so delicious," said Levine, who's eaten many high-dollar Wagyu steaks. "More and more people are becoming food connoisseurs and are treating themselves to luxury food."Brad Feddersen said he's found that's absolutely true, whether people live in a large city or a small town.When the family started selling Wagyu directly, they initially lowered prices. They were at about $5 per pound for hamburger, for example. They provided free samples to get people to try Wagyu. Once people did try it, Brad said they were hooked, adding that 100% Wagyu often grades higher than prime.As they worked to build their market, for five Saturdays leading up to Christmas of 2020, the Feddersens gave out samples and sold meat at a local vendor event in Sioux City, Iowa. The result was an astounding $120,000 in sales."When we opened the booth on the second weekend, 100 people were already standing in line," Brad told DTN.Along with the one-to-one sales, Brad reached out to Fareway, one of the Midwest's largest grocery store chains known for its fresh meat selection. He provided $8,000 worth of beef samples to employees. Fareway has purchased about 300 head since 2021, and they sell the premium product both in stores and online. (See www.farewaymeatmarket.com) Brad told DTN the company plans to buy most of the cattle currently in the Feddersens' feedyards.Today a Feddersen 16-ounce Wagyu ribeye sells for $80 to $90 at Fareway. Dalten Davis, operations manager for the online meat market, said sales are strong to individuals and are gaining with restaurants. He noted customers often buy Waygyu for special occasions, such as birthdays and holidays, and some only buy it."With restaurants being closed, people were forced to cook at home but they still wanted quality meat," said Davis, noting that Fareway ships Feddersen Wagyu regularly to New York City and other large urban centers. "It's a fantastic eating experience," he added.GROWING THE HERDAs the Feddersens have worked to build demand, they are now working to meet it. The family works with local cattle producers to boost the Wagyu population through the use of surrogate cows. This year they implanted about 800 fullblood Wagyu embryos into surrogate cows. Eggs were flushed from fullblood Wagyu females the family has acquired, and those eggs were fertilized with semen from fullblood Wagyu bulls, all with elite genetics. Some semen straws cost $10,000.The Feddersens hope about 70% of the embryo transplants result in a calf. After that, it usually takes more than three years for Wagyu cattle to reach a market weight of 1,450 pounds or more. Some females will be retained for breeding.The advantages of transplanting embryos is that one female can supply four to more than 20 unfertilized eggs when flushed. Semen from one straw can be used to fertilize multiple eggs. The process isn't cheap. The Feddersens expect to have $3,500 invested in a calf once the farmer is paid for supplying the surrogate cow, raising the yearling to 450 pounds and paying vet bills. That also includes the embryo work."The main goal of embryo transfers is to take that superior female and mate her with a sire that's hopefully out of this world, whether for meat quality or show quality, and exploiting it. Instead of one calf per year, we're having multiple calves," explained Travis Hargens, a veterinarian and certified embryo transfer practitioner with the Audubon Manning Vet Clinic at Audubon, Iowa. He works with the Feddersens.Brad Feddersen said they are still recovering from the financial loss in 2020, but he's optimistic now. The business shifts, he told DTN, have put the family's Wagyu business on a path to recovery financially, and on a path to achieve their ultimate goal."We want to produce the highest quality meat to give people pleasure eating," Brad said.For more information, go to the American Wagyu Association website at https://Wagyu.org/….Matthew Wilde can be reached at matt.wilde@dtn.comFollow him on Twitter @progressivwilde(c) Copyright 2022 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.