PRESS BRIEFING

Wagyu cattle originate from Japan and the first exports began in the 1970s to the United States, followed by Australia in the 1990s and more recently (in the 2000s) to the UK where a core group of breeders, commercial producers, butchers and restaurateurs began to specialise in what is widely held to be the world’s finest-tasting beef.

The fledgling Wagyu Breeders Association (WBA), thought to be the first new UK Breed Society in over 20 years, was established to promote Wagyu cattle breeding and its premium beef to add value to all parts of the supply chain. Since its launch - which took place in Tetbury, Glocs 11-12 November 2014, the WBA has built upon the support of Wagyu pedigree and commercial breeders to put in place the foundations upon which to grow a successful Association. British Wagyu is more than a breed, it is in fact a brand with far-reaching ambitions beyond its farming origins through to farm shops, restaurants, wholesalers, butchers, smaller independent shops, major multiple retailers and of course the customer! This is why we now refer to ourselves as the British Wagyu Association (BWA) to encompass all these spheres.

BWA Directors are: Jim Bloom, founder of Warrendale Wagyu; Hugh Pocock who began his career in butchery and then genetics; Chris Dickinson with a background in beef, sheep, goats and poultry; together with Jess Edwards, Commercial Director of Wyndford Wagyu. BWA Company Secretary is Richard Saunders who has over 20 years’ experience in the UK pedigree livestock industry.

Rather than ‘reinvent the wheel,’ the BWA works in partnership with a number of world-leading organisations to underpin its work. Firstly, we have an agreement in place with the Australian Wagyu Association (AWA) to provide membership, registration and performance recording facilities. The AWA is regarded as one of the foremost Wagyu registries worldwide; BWA Full Members become Overseas Members of the AWA as part of their annual subscription.

Secondly, Caisley Tags provide unique 'British Wagyu' branded tissue punch tags to allow DNA parentage testing to be carried out in order to ensure traceability and meat integrity for Warrendale’s integrated beef scheme. BVD testing can also be carried out at the same time thus reducing time and cost.

The British Wagyu Quality Assurance Scheme ‘WBA-Approved British Wagyu’ was established in 2020 to create a minimum set of standards that our customers can rely on to safeguard the premium British Wagyu brand and returning value to all. In 2021, the WBA became a founding member of the World Wagyu Council whose mission is to enhance the Wagyu breed and brand internationally. Defra recognised the BWA as the UK’s official Wagyu breeding body in 2022.

For any further information, please contact WBA Company Secretary Richard Saunders on 07901768904 or by emailing info@britishwagyu.co.uk