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 high grade beef with 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. 

The term wagyu is often associated with a certain quality or grade of beef. In reality, the word "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), just like traditional beef. Unfortunately the term "wagyu" has been overused by restaurants to imply quality, when all it really means is Japanese heritage. At Shenandoah Sky, we offer only top-quality Akaushi wagyu with beef often grading well above the threshold of USDA Prime.

All Akaushi are wagyu, but not all wagyu are Akaushi. Akaushi are separate and distinct from other breeds of wagyu, primarily in coat color and meat quality.

At Shenandoah Sky Ranch, our cattle are pasture-raised on open rolling land where they have plenty of space to graze naturally. We use a grass-fed/grain finished approach, meaning our cattle start on pastures and are then finished on fermented forage and cracked corn. The end result is nutritionally dense beef, rich in marbling and flavor. Our cattle drink only the clearest well water from deep Appalachian aquifers, ensuring a clean environment, and uncompromised taste.

Yes. All our beef is inspected and processed 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.

You can order our premium Akaushi Wagyu beef directly from the website. We offer local pickup every Thursday from 3:00pm - 7:00pm, or select a shipping option to receive beef in any of the 50 states.

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 crew, and Shenandoah Sky is in its infancy. In addition to our family of three, we only have one full-time person. Most days find us physically tending the land, minding cattle, and sorting out the myriad surprises that need our attention--as so often happens in agriculture. 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 of our beef. Stay tuned to see when you can come get dirty with us!

Shipping rates are calculated based upon the geographical zone of your delivery address. The cost of shipping considers the box, insulated liner, dry ice, and your preferred shopping speed (overnight or 2day).

Our cost of shipping, on average, is about 70% off standard rates.