Kiyofuku: The No. 1 Famous Breeding Wagyu of Miyazaki Prefecture
Table of Contents
* Note: This is not a direct translation of Kenichi Ono’s “Top 100 Famous Beef of Japan [Revised Edition]” but a summary that was written using it as a direct source.
Figure 1. Kiyofuku
Early Life
In the 1960s, “Mitsufuku” and “Kikutsuru” were well-known, and in the 1970s, “Kitaguni 7” emerged. However, from the 1980s to the Heisei era (starting in 1989), the No. 1 breeding Wagyu in Miyazaki Prefecture is undoubtedly “Kiyofuku.”
Kiyofuku was born on May 16, Showa 61 (1986) at the cattle barn of the Sakashita Beef Cattle Production Association in Kiyomi Village, Gifu Prefecture. Kiyofuku’s father was “Anfuku,” considered the masterpiece of Wagyu in the Showa era, and his maternal grandfather was the renowned bull “Mōfuji,” from the Moganeha line, which was a perfect partner to Anfuku.
Kiyofuku’s birthplace, Kiyomi Village, was the same place where Gifu Prefecture’s Beef Cattle Testing Center was located, and where Anfuku was used as a breeding bull. Thus, Kiyofuku was an elite Wagyu born in the land of its origin.
In March 1987, at the Takayama Calf Market, Kiyofuku was purchased by Masazumi Nagano from Miyazaki Prefecture for 650,000 yen, a high price at the time. For the first and second breeding cycles, Kiyofuku was mated with “Kikuyasu” (sire: Kikushige Doi), which was used in Miyazaki Prefecture. The offspring from these breedings achieved continuous BMS (Beef Marbling Standard) scores of 12, drawing significant attention.
In the third cycle, Kiyofuku was mated with “Anpei” (sire: Anfuku, from Miyazaki Prefecture), in the fourth with “Heishō” (sire: Dai 20 Heimo), in the fifth with “Fukuō” (sire: Takaō), in the sixth with “Anmitofuji” (sire: Takami), in the seventh with “Kikuheifuku” (sire: Kikuyasu, Miyazaki Prefecture), and in the eighth with “Itoheifuku” (sire: Ikkei Fuku, Oita Prefecture).
In the ninth cycle, a female calf was born for the first time and named “Yasuhirahime” (sire: Anfuku, Miyazaki Prefecture). She is currently active as a breeding cow.
Afterward, an ET (embryo transfer) experiment was attempted with “Kitaguni 7,” resulting in the successful birth of two female calves, “Kitahira” and “Fukuhira,” in 1996. In 1997, “Jōeifuku” (registered name: 21st Century) was born from the mating with “Jōfuku,” a cow introduced from Hyogo Prefecture of the Mitsufuku line.
Kiyofuku’s breeding record includes a total of 12 offspring, including two ET calves. Among these, nine were male, and six of them became breeding bulls in Miyazaki Prefecture. Two of Kiyofuku’s sons, Anpei and Fukuō, achieved the top national rankings in indirect test results, making Kiyofuku an exceptional breeding Wagyu cow with unprecedented success. Kiyofuku will continue to pass on Anfuku’s bloodline to future generations in Gifu.
Features
Strengths: Marbling (fat distribution), Meat color, Ribeye area, Body conformation, Well-developed thighs, Carcass yield, Weight gain, Fine texture, Slightly early maturation
Weaknesses: Slightly weak topline, Large belly, Possibility of carrying the CL16 gene
The Kiyofuku line of breeding bulls is generally known for having broad shoulders, excellent body symmetry, and becoming perfectly fattened cattle without excess fat. Even when looking for faults, the only issue that could be found is a slight lack of flavor due to early maturation.
The data from four bulls that have already completed indirect testing (Anpei, Heishō, Fukuō, and Anmitofuji) shows ideal values: DG (daily gain) of 0.98 kg, ribeye area of 50 cm², and BMS (Beef Marbling Standard) of 2.8. The remaining two bulls (Kikuheifuku and Itoheifuku) are also expected to show great promise.
Main Successor Bull Candidates
- Anpei (Miyazaki Prefecture Livestock Improvement Corporation)
As a bull from the Hyogo line, Anpei boasts the highest economic value among active bulls. Along with Fukuō, mentioned later, Anpei has garnered attention not only in Miyazaki Prefecture but also throughout the entire Kyushu region. His balance between weight gain and meat quality reminds people of Anfuku’s golden days in Gifu, and it is believed that Anpei is now at his peak.
Anpei’s key features include slightly reddish hair, a large belly, broad shoulders, and good bone structure. The only notable weaknesses are a slightly weak topline and a somewhat less attractive face. In some cases of inbreeding with the Hyogo line, there have been cows with slightly reduced milk production. The best match for Anpei is “Takazakura,” a crossbreed of the Ketaka and Itosakura lines, whose calves also sell for high prices.
Although Heishō was not highly evaluated due to its relatively low BMS score in the open test, its performance in the field afterward has been excellent, living up to the reputation of the Kiyofuku line. As long as careful attention is given to the thin ribeye area—a common issue with the Heimo line—Heishō’s offspring will continue to have high value in the future.
- Itoheifuku (Miyazaki Prefecture Livestock Improvement Corporation)
Itoheifuku, produced from the mating of Itofuku (the most successful bull in Kyushu) and Kiyofuku, has gained popularity even before indirect testing, thanks to the high recognition of both lines. It is expected to become one of the most popular bulls, following Anpei and Fukuō.
- Kikuheifuku (Miyazaki Prefecture Livestock Improvement Corporation)
Kikuheifuku, produced from the mating of Kikuyasu—the sire of Kiyofuku’s first and second fattening offspring—shows great potential for producing outstanding cattle, based on its fattening record. Expectations for this bull are high.
Breeding Considerations & Recommendations
1. Bulls from the Kiyofuku line are characterized by traits inherited from Anfuku of Gifu, such as large ribeye areas, well-developed thighs, marbling, and good meat color. When selecting a mating partner, it’s essential to choose from lines like the Dai 20 Heimo line or the Itosakura line, which have slightly weaker traits in these areas. Care must be taken to avoid increasing the inbreeding coefficient.
2. The Kiyofuku line bulls can be broadly divided into purebred types, such as Anpei and Kikuheifuku, from the Hyogo line, and half-bred types, such as Fukuō and Itoheifuku. In regions with strong, healthy breeding cows, the purebred types are recommended, while in areas with weaker or more nervous cows, the half-bred types are preferable.
3. A breeding plan should account for the possibility of carrying the CL16 gene (97.9%).
References
小野健一. 日本名牛百選〔改訂版〕. 肉牛新報社.
