About meat distribution
① Producers
Cattle are raised by each producer until they reach the age around 30 months, while hogs are raised until they reach the age of about ６ months before shipment.
Cattle grow to nearly 750 to 800 kilograms, while hogs grow to nearly 100 to 120 kilograms except sire and sows.
② Shipment
Cattle and hogs are raised for a certain period of time by each producer. After they have reached a specific weight as above, they are shipped by dedicated truck to the market.
③ Live animal inspections carried out before slaughtering
In live animal inspection, cattle / hogs are checked for any abnormalities in their appearance and manner of walking.
If necessary, inspector takes a blood sample from cattle / hogs to check for any abnormalities before slaughtering.
For more information about those live animal inspections, please contact the Shibaura Meat Sanitary Inspection Station, Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
④ Trimming
Cattle / hogs that have passed live animal inspections are cut into dressed carcasses by skilled our employees.
⑤ Inspections carried out after slaughtering
Inspections are carried out to make sure that there are no abnormalities with the top parts of the head, offal, and carcasses.
⑥ Grading of carcasses
The dedicated grading staff of that Japan Meat Grading Association will evaluate carcasses to provide a grading used as a benchmark in their distribution.
Beef carcasses
| Yield grade | Quality grade | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | ５ | ４ | ３ | ２ | １ |
| B | ５ | ４ | ３ | ２ | １ |
| C | ５ | ４ | ３ | ２ | １ |
There are 15 grades for beef.
Pork carcasses
| Weights, back fat thickness, appearance, meat quality | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | High | Middle | Regular | Offgrade |
There are ５ grades for pork by weights range, back fat thickness, appearance, meat quality.
⑦ Auctions
Graded beef / pork carcasses are sold by auctions.
The auctions are carried out by our employees with auctioneer licenses to help achieve a fair and impartial distribution of meat.
⑧ Wholesalers
Bones are removed from carcasses that have been purchased through auctions, and then separated into different cuts, such as sirloin and ribs, to make them available for sale at meat shops and supermarkets.
⑨ Meat shops, supermarkets
Meat parts that have been purchased through wholesalers are sliced, cut into blocks, or finely chopped into ground meat, and then sold at meat shops and supermarkets.
⑩ They are served at your table.
Purchased meat is cooked for tasty dishes at home.
