The Wagyu Breeders Association (WBA) will be holding a Spring Conference in and around York from Thursday 21st to Fri 22nd May 2015. The dates have been chosen to fit in with The National Beef Association’s Beef Expo to be held at York Auction Centre on the Thursday where the Association will welcome Wagyu enthusiasts onto its Breed Society stand.
Since the Association’s launch back in November, the Directors have been working hard to put together an attractive package for WBA Members to include: registration of pure and crossbred stock; DNA sire verification and certified Wagyu scheme; branded tagging - all aimed at maintaining the integrity - and high value - of the Wagyu beef product. News and exciting progress of our work will be announced at the Spring Conference on Friday 22nd May.
The WBA Spring Conference presents an ideal opportunity to meet with Members and explain the forward work of the Association. WBA are keen to involve every link in the chain so a fundamental part of the event will be to welcome as many potential customers as possible: from farm shops to butchers, and chefs to restaurateurs, the goal being to work together to promote and grow the interest in Wagyu throughout the UK.
Programme and Timings:
Please find below the full programme and timings for the Wagyu Breeders Association (WBA) Spring Conference to be held in and around York 21-22 May. Participants will be able to see first-hand the new web-enabled interface incorporating tagging, DNA and linking to the registration/performance-recording facility of the Australian Wagyu Association. Key to this rounded approach lies the marketing of Wagyu beef under the 'British Wagyu' brand backed up by the rigours of DNA testing combined with tamper-proof sample storage and life-time traceability. Exclusive to WBA Members, this joined-up package also 'ticks the boxes' of being cost-effective, secure and simple-to-use for breeders and producers. Sponsors will also be present either with stands or putting on practical demos on the Friday. These include: Grass Science, Caisley, TL Biolabs, Harbro, RAFT Solutions & Kelvin Cave. A number of existing or prospective WBA Members have registered to attend but limited places are still available if you would like to find out about Wagyu cattle or beef - renowned as the World's finest tasting!
Thurs 21 May
WBA stand within National Beef Association (NBA) Beef Expo, York Auction Centre, Murton Lane, York, YO19 5GF. Please note there is a charge by NBA for entry to the event. Open to public 9am-5pm. Joint stand with Yorkshire Wagyu Co.
Fri 22 May
WBA Spring Conference, c/o Jonathan Shepherd's 500-head mainly commercial Wagyu enterprise at Field House Farm, Huggate Road, Tibthorpe, Nr Driffield, YO25 9JZ
10.00 (refreshments) Chairman's Welcome followed by Jonathan Shepherd's Introduction to the farm
10.30 WBA Director Jim Bloom reports on Wagyu World Conference held in Australia 8-10 May. Q&A
1100 Caisley Presentation (Geno FlexoPlus tissue punch tag) followed by Q&A
11.30 TL Biolabs Presentation (new web-enabled interface) followed by Q&A
13.00 Lunch/Chef demo
13.30 Farm Walk & practical tagging demo at Rearing Unit
14.30 Drive to Growing Unit (optional visit to view Lucerne crop)
15.00 Depart
Registration
This invitation is open to all interested farmers, breeders, farm shops, chefs, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, caterers and so on. All Welcome! Please email click here or telephone Company Secretary Richard Saunders on 07901-768904 to register.