During the Meiji Period, people started to eat beef under the influence of the western culture and Omi shonin (Omi merchants) reportedly contributed to the spread of beef consumption as Ise shonin (Ise merchants) did to the spread of Matsuzaka beef.
明治になり、西洋文化の影響で牛肉食が始まり松阪牛の普及に伊勢商人が貢献したように近江商人の活躍があったためともいわれている。