Hida Beef Research Department

Prizewinning steer Yasufuku is regarded as the father of hida beef, a high-quality meat famous for its marbled texture and rich flavor. Now, 13 years after its death, Japanese scientists have succeeded in cloning the legendary animal. “Cloned Beef” is the latest successful cloning experiment; in 2008, a mouse that had spent 16 years in a deep-freeze was cloned. The “resurrection” of Yasufuku not only catapults a tradition into the 21^st century; it also makes it possible to use the clone as the subject of sustainable research on the genetic and environmental conditions that are necessary to preserve the quality of this traditional breed for the future.