Marbling 101, How Beef Is Judged, and Why We’re Proud of 2024

Ribeye (Bone-In)

Marbling 101: Why It Matters for Flavor, Tenderness, and Juiciness

If you’ve ever wondered why one steak melts in your mouth while another puts up a fight, the answer is marbling—those fine white streaks of intramuscular fat that create tenderness, juiciness, and rich flavor. In the U.S., marbling is central to how beef is graded (Prime, Choice, Select), with higher marbling almost always meaning a better eating experience.

Internationally, Japanese Wagyu is graded using the Beef Marbling Standard (BMS), which ranges from 1–12 and also considers meat color, firmness, and fat quality. Scores of BMS 8–12 indicate extremely abundant marbling—the kind of “melt-on-the-tongue” experience people talk about for days. At Big Horn Mountain Farms, our Wagyu-Angus crosses are selected and finished to bring a taste of that experience home to Wyoming.

Competitions and judging events look at similar traits: marbling distribution, color, texture, and yield. Those objective measures line up perfectly with what you feel at the table—steaks with fine, even marbling cook more evenly, baste themselves from the inside, and stay moist.

An ornate belt buckle awarded for "Best Beef in Wyoming 2024" at the Rendezvous City Beef Round-Up is displayed on a backdrop of high-quality marbled beef cuts.

Best Beef in Wyoming 2024

In 2024, we were honored to be recognized as Best Beef in Wyoming—a proud moment for our family and a reflection of the careful breeding, regenerative pastures, and patient finishing practices we follow at Big Horn Mountain Farms. The ribbon was nice, but what matters most is that every cut you bring home reflects those same standards week after week.

Shopping Tip

For quick, high-heat cooking (cast iron searing or grilling), choose steaks with visible, even marbling. For roasts or slow cooking, you don’t need sky-high marbling—connective tissue will gently convert to gelatin, making the meat tender. Either way, our herd management is designed to give you forgiving, flavorful beef every time. That’s why our beef tastes so good.