WARRENDALE WAGYU REACHES 100,000TH CALF MILESTONE
Cameron Steel pictured with his Wagyu F1 calves at Anns Hill
August 1st 2025 marked a major milestone for British Wagyu with the 100,000th Wagyu calf undergoing DNA sire verification for Warrendale Wagyu’s integrated supply chain. This landmark figure underlines the growth of Wagyu births over the last 10 years: in 2014 there were just 2,405 births according to BCMS (British Cattle Movement Service) whilst 45,232 Wagyu-sired calves were born in Great Britain in 2024. This increase has been underpinned not only by the number of farmers raising Wagyu (now around 1,000 farms in the UK) but also by the visibility and growth trajectory of Wagyu beef in the wholesale and retail spheres.
With one of the core standards of the British Wagyu Assurance scheme being that all calves are sire verified to a Fullblood Wagyu bull, farmers use a branded British Wagyu eartag from Caisley for their calves which releases a tissue vial for DNA testing. This is now the 100,000th vial that has gone through the system with the calf in question being a Wagyu-cross Holstein bull calf born on 15th July for James & Vanessa Steel and their son Cameron at Anns Hill Farm, Bridekirk, Cockermouth, Cumbria.
The Steels run a 600-cow dairy herd producing around 400 Wagyu calves per year. All cows are genomically tested with the top 40% served to sexed Holstein and the remainder to Wagyu. Commenting, Vanessa Steel says: “We’ve been with Warrendale for two years now and can’t fault the scheme or the collections. As a dairy farmer, we find Wagyu is a great breed to work with as calves are not only born easily with a low birthweight but are also very healthy.” After three days in individual pens the calves are penned in batches of ten and are collected at 2-3 weeks of age by an established group of local rearers.
Warrendale Wagyu is a Yorkshire-based Wagyu beef business, currently working in partnership with farmers across the UK. Its unique integrated supply chain is founded on the principle of producing the highest quality British Wagyu Beef consistently and in a sustainable manner. Wagyu is renowned as one of the best tasting breeds in the World and famed for its highly-marbled delicious and tender beef.
DNA testing ensures full ‘farm-to-fork’ traceability and product integrity with the British Wagyu logo and stamp of authenticity displayed on product packaging for retailers including Aldi and Waitrose.
For dairy farmers, using Wagyu genetics not only gives them a premium-value calf but has the added advantage of small birthweights, vigorous calves as well as comparatively short gestation lengths.