BRITISH WAGYU ASSURED SCHEME

 
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It all started wHEN…

……. the British Wagyu Breeders Association (WBA) launched its new British Wagyu Assurance Scheme on 1st July 2020. With a branded tissue punch ear tag and sire verification at its core, the novel scheme unites all parts of the supply chain in assuring the integrity of the British Wagyu brand.

All rearers, growers, finishers, processors and retailers are able to benefit from membership of the scheme as consumer demand for premium British Wagyu-assured beef grows – backed up by the distinctive new logo on packaging. Financing comes through through agreements with the WBA’s major tag and DNA partners, from logo royalties alongside membership fees.

WBA Director, Chris Dickinson, North Netherscales Farm, Skelton, Penrith says: “This is a hugely exciting time for the premium end of the beef industry with customers demanding not only superior eating quality but also animals that are fully traceable and reared to the highest welfare standards. The new British Wagyu assurance scheme puts out a very strong marker.”

 The principles of the scheme are:

·         All animals sire verified to a registered Fullblood Wagyu bull

·         Dams either dairy-bred or native breeds

·         All animals born in the United Kingdom

·         All animals tagged with British Wagyu-branded DNA tissue-punch tag

·         All animals DNA sire verified

·         All animals BVD tested negative

·         All farms to be working towards whole-life Red Tractor assured status

·         Minimum age at slaughter 22 months; no maximum age

·         No bull beef

 The scheme will:

·         Lead the industry in terms of traceability, animal welfare and consumer trust

·         Enhance the integrity and value of premium Wagyu beef

·         Be at the forefront of data collection for meat quality, performance efficiency and climate change

·         Increase the profile and demand for British Wagyu

Integral to the success of the scheme are data collection and analysis which will underpin the  financial return on investment. With a world-leading partner in place to carry out DNA and genomic testing, and with access to carcase and performance data linking back to all sires, the whole supply chain will quickly have at their fingertips a valuable marketing and breeding tool to maximise efficiency and profitability as well as ticking wider environmental boxes.

From the outset, these will include standard carcase information such as days to slaughter, DLWG, carcase weight, killing-out %, and over time will expand to key economic traits like retail yield and feed efficiency. In the short term, important management factors such as calving ease, birthweight, gestation length and (semen) fertility can be incorporated with the longer-term ambition being to add marbling (marble score and fineness), tenderness and taste into the equation.

 Please click HERE for the full rules, HERE for the new logo, HERE for the new-look branded Caisley tag, and HERE for how to order the various Caisley tag combos.