Pronounced (Ah-ka-oo-shee). Akaushi is a breed of Japanese cattle. It translates to "red cow". They are a breed of wagyu (Japanese cow), known for producing intense marbling, buttery taste, and heart-healthy fats. Considered a national treasure in Japan, Akaushi beef is rich in monounsaturated fats, and to this day the breed retains some of the most closely guarded genetics in the world. Our heard's genetics can be traced back to the original Japanese imports.

Not all wagyu is the same--by a long shot. The term "wagyu" is often associated with a certain "quality" or "grade" of beef. In reality, "wagyu" translates to "Japanese cow". Just like Angus, Hereford, and Devon are considered English cattle, the word wagyu encapsulates all breeds of cattle with Japanese origin. Similarly, wagyu beef has varying levels of quality (grades). "Wagyu" has been overused by restaurants to imply quality, when all it really means is the beef is of Japanese heritage. At Shenandoah Sky, we offer only the most superb Akaushi wagyu. Think of the genetic as raw-potential, and husbandry as the trainer/coach. USDA prime can't touch this!

All Akaushi are wagyu, but not all wagyu are Akaushi. Akaushi are separate and distinct from other breeds of wagyu, primarily in coat color, meat quality, monounsaturated fat, taste, and tenderness. Wagyu has a hierarch with Akaushi being the emperor.

Our cattle are pasture-raised on open rolling land where they have plenty of space to graze naturally, soak up the sun, or lounge in the shade. We use a grass-fed/grain finished approach, meaning our cattle stay on pasture until the finishing phase. From there they are given a mixture of fermented forage and cracked corn. The end result is a nutritionally dense beef, rich in marbling, flavor, and cut-with-a-fork tender.

Our cattle drink only the clearest well water from deep Appalachian aquifers. This ensures a pristine environment, unfettered waterways, and beef that tastes uncompromisingly clean.

We are organic minded. While our program has not gone through the USDA hoops to be labeled as organic, many of our practices strictly adhere to organic guidelines. That means no synthetics--EVER. Those include added growth hormones and non-protein nitrogen. Our pastures are fertilized with poultry litter. We rarely, if ever, use antibiotics due to our cattle coming from a closed environment.

The beef that arrives to your doorstep is the very same beef we feed to our family. We feel great about it, and we hope you do, too!

Yes. All our beef is processed and inspected at a USDA facility to ensure the highest standards of safety and quality. Each cut is vacuum-sealed to lock in freshness, so you can enjoy our premium beef with confidence. The team members at our processor are absolute rock stars!

You can order our premium Akaushi Wagyu beef directly from the website. We ship to all fifty states. You can select 2Day, Overnight, or Local Pickup (free) as shipping options.

If you selected Local Pickup, we are at the Beef Barn every Thursday from 3:00pm - 7:00pm. Your order will be boxed and ready to go by the time you arrive.

If you prefer to shop in-person, you can make an appointment by calling or texting 817-734-5954, or email us at info@shenandoahskyranch.com.

FYI - If you call and we do not answer, please leave a message. We WILL call you back! Most of our days are spent with the animals, tending the land, ensuring the final product is epic! We look forward to hearing from you!

We plan to offer ranch tours, ranch-to-table dinners, and ranch experiences in the near future. We are overjoyed at the number of requests, but we run a lean/mean/mighty crew, and Shenandoah Sky is in its infancy. A typical day for our crew is 12 to 14 hours, seven days a week, rain, snow, ice, or shine. It is a labor of love; a love we believe you will taste in every bite. Stay tuned to see when you can come get dirty with us!

We strive to keep shipping rates affordable, and simple to understand. A "Flat Rate" based upon value is the most cost effective way we have found. All orders ship via UPS.

2-Day orders will arrive frozen or partially frozen. Overnight orders will arrive frozen. All shipments are packed with dry ice, placed in a thermal liner, and securely boxed. All order ship UPS.

2-Day Rates (ship Mondays and Tuesdays and will arrive in one to three business days):

$0 to $249.99: $35

$250 to $499.99: $25

$500+: FREE

Overnight Rates (ship Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and will arrive in one business day):

$0 to $249.99: $70

$250 to $499.99: $60

$500+: $50

Yes! Shenandoah Sky Ranch Akaushi Wagyu is significantly different than traditional, commercial beef. That is why we do what we do. It begins with direct Japanese genetic lineage, carries through to the meticulous growing phase, next to the tailored finishing period, processing, and finally to your table. We focus on buttery flavor, tenderness, and health benefits. You can't just run to the store and get our caliber of beef, because most producers can't duplicate a program like ours. We set out to do things the old way to create beef at a new level.