Itozurudoi, also known as TF 151, is one of the legendary foundation sires of the Wagyu breed. Known for his extremely balanced offspring, he sires a unique combination of carcass quality and growth. TF 151 is a combination of Dai 7 Itozakura and Yasumi Doi blood through his sire Itokitatsuru J1081 (a son of the famous Dai 7 Itozakura J65 bull) and his maternal grandsire, Yasumi Doi himself. He has established himself as an elite carcass and growth sire in multiple herds around the world and continues to be highly sought after today. Semen is extremely rare and valuable from this legendary sire with straws recently selling for $4,700/straw in Australia. TF 151 has produced sons and daughters that have had success in breeding programs around the globe. A few examples of sons are Sher Zurushige B119, Mayura L0064, Mayura Zulu, LMR Akahige 8119U, LMR Sensei 817T, and Stonyrun ID 151 Ichiro 1.

Itozurudoi is a rotational breeding group 3 or C (large size, good marbling, excellent maternal traits) sire in the Takeda rotational breeding system and his 16/16 analysis shows him as 50% Tajima, 25% Kedaka, and 25% Itozakura. These traditional evaluations would mark him as an adequate marbling sire with exceptional growth and maternal traits in his offspring. TF 151’s Breedplan data consists of a massive 2,471 registered offspring with 650 progeny analyzed, 127 scan progeny, and 76 carcass progeny from 39 different herds. His use in the United States was less extensive with only 220 registered. It should also be noted that David Blackmore has published his own set of genomic enhanced EBVs on TF 151 in the Spring of 2018 which almost mirror his Breedplan rankings relative to the other foundation sires published. To summarize, there is a variety of published data on TF 151 from pedigree to carcass data that all agrees he is a good marbling and rib eye area sire with exceptional growth and maternal traits in his offspring.

ItozurudoiTF151

Itokitatsuru J1081

YasuhimeJ433313

NishizuruJ101266

Yasumi DoiJ10328

Fujihime J3111983

Dai 7 Itozakura J65

Sire Evaluation:Itozurudoi TF 151

Itozurudoi TF 151

As mentioned, TF 151’s pedigree-based evaluation is surprisingly accurate compared to his progeny proof from the Australian Wagyu Association’s Breedplan system. On Breedplan, TF 151 excels in a variety of traits exhibiting his uniquely balanced breeding. On carcass traits he has a MS EBV of 0.0, Eye Muscle Area EBV of +1.7, and a Marble Fineness EBV of +0.30. All exceptional numbers for a bull who was in born 1991 and is now compared to other sires with over 20 years of genetic progress. On the other side of the EBVs, TF 151’s growth and maternal traits are just as impressive. He has a 400 Day Wt EBV of +20, 600 Day Wt EBV of +24, Mature Cow Wt EBV of +36, Carcass Wt EBV of +22, and Milk EBV of +5. Keep in mind, all these traits are still above breed average and contribute to the legendary status that TF 151 has built for himself within the Wagyu breed.

These balanced strengths are mirrored in David Blackmore’s published EBVs on TF 151. Blackmore’s EBVs are different from Breedplan and cannot be directly compared to them but are derived using the same system as Breedplan. TF 151 ranks 5th for MS behind Yasufuku Jr, TF 148 Itoshigenami, World K’s Michifuku, and Kitatsurukikudoi 007. Furthermore, he ranks 7th for EMA, and 1st for Hot Carcass Weight within Blackmore’s herd EBVs of the 16 published sires.

Possibly Itozurudoi’s only weakness is that he is a carrier of the F11 recessive gene. Also, in the realm of DNA tests are TF 151’s genotype for the the popular SCD test and TENDERNESS test. TF 151’s genotype for these are still unknown as he has never been directly tested for either of them. The F11 carrier status has not deterred the serious breeder from pursuing TF 151 genetics, with semen recently selling for $4,700/straw AUD in November 2018, daughter Stonyrun ID 151 Suzito selling for $52,000 USD in April 2018, and son Mayura L0064 selling for $25,000 AUD in October 2017.

As a sire of sons, TF 151 has produced popular and successful sons LMR Akahige 8119U, Stonyrun ID 151 Ichiro 1, LMR Sensei 817T, Sher Zurushige B119, and Mayura Zulu. LMR Akahige 8119U is a TF 151 son out of TF 600, an Itomichi ½ daughter from the Takeda Hikokura maternal line. Akahige has averaged 29.24% IMF and ranks 2nd in Marble

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The International Wagyu Breeder

Itozurudoi TF 151’s EBVs

TF 151 - Continued

Fineness on 12 carcasses in the Lone Mountain Ranch program while also ranking well for HCW (hot carcass weight) and REA (rib eye area) on the WSU 2017 Sire Summary. Stonyrun ID 151 Ichiro 1 is a son of TF 151 from the famous Suzutaka 2 cow, who is a Takazakura daughter of Suzutani herself. Sher Zurushige B119 is a TF 151 x TF 147 x TF 148 out of the TF Tetufuku family and has great progeny proof on Breedplan backed by 38 carcasses. Mayura Zulu is a TF 151 x Itohana 2 that goes back to the famous TF Dai 2 Kinntou 3. Zulu has some of the highest reliability of any TF 151 son because of an incredible 130 carcass progeny and following in his sire’s footsteps, is a very balanced EBV bull. With sons performing well in a variety of programs, TF 151 has cemented his place in Wagyu breeding as a balanced sire who can work in virtually any place he is used.

As expected, TF 151 has found his place in a variety of breeding programs creating tremendous, balanced females. A fantastic example of this can be found in the number of full sisters to the legendary $220/Kg grass fed wagyu carcass (link to article on this carcass: https://www.beefcentral.com/trade/at-220kg-is-this-australias-most-expensive-grassfed-beef/). The highest Indexing of which is Bar H W1628 (BARFK1628), who has a Self Replacing Index of $151. Another TF 151 daughter who possesses some incredible numbers is WSI Tai Ms Ito DG007W (WSIFD007W). She is genomic tested and has the highest indexes for Self Replacing and Fullblood Terminal of all 151 daughters at $194 SRI and $184 FTI. Her pedigree reads TF 151 x Michifuku x Haruki 2 x Okutani. The aforementioned sires and dams paint a clear picture of the role TF 151 can play in assisting breeders in breeding balanced profitable cattle.

In conclusion, TF 151 Itozurudoi is one of the true legends of the Wagyu breed. He will provide elite carcass traits for EMA, MS, and MF while also excelling in growth and maternal traits. TF 151, while no longer a commercially available A.I. sire, can still be used through his popular sons and daughters to increase overall profitability. He has shown the ability to transmit balanced strengths to the next generation through LMR Akahige 8119U, Sher Zurushige B119, and Mayura Zulu - to name a few. His legacy will be felt in the Wagyu breed for many generations to come and his progeny will likely be in continuous demand for their overall ability to increase profitability.

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Sire Evaluation: