BRITISH WAGYU SPRING CONFERENCE 21-22 MAY

Three major new contracts underpin unique registration, tagging and branding facility

The Wagyu Breeders Association (WBA) is holding its Spring Conference 21st-22nd May 2015 in and around York where details of three major contracts will be unveiled. Ensuring complete product integrity and lifetime traceability backed by a ‘British Wagyu’ branded ear tag, these new agreements will provide pedigree and commercial Wagyu producers with a unique package of animal registration and DNA authentication all at a single ‘click of a button’ via a bespoke database interface.

The two-day event starts with a joint WBA and Yorkshire Wagyu Company stand at the National Beef Association's Beef Expo at York Market on Thursday 21st May followed by a Farm Walk and practical demonstration of its branded tags and website interface to be held  at Field House Farm, Huggate Road, Tibthorpe, Driffield 10am – 3pm on Friday 22nd May. On view will also be the 500-head crossbred and purebred cattle under Jonathan Shepherd’s management as well as opportunities to taste the best of Wagyu beef! 

Three major new contracts will underpin the work of the WBA going forward. Firstly, the WBA is to work together with the Australian Wagyu Association (AWA) to provide membership, registration and performance recording facilities. The AWA is regarded as a world leader in respect of the Wagyu breed and WBA Members will gain automatic membership of the AWA at no additional cost, representing excellent value-for-money.

Secondly, Caisley Tags are to provide a unique 'British Wagyu' branded tissue punch tag which will allow DNA parentage testing to be carried out to assure traceability and meat integrity. Doubling as a management tag, this enables WBA Members to not only market Wagyu beef under the 'British Wagyu' logo, but also stands up to scientific scrutiny through DNA testing at any point between birth and slaughter. All animals will be DNA sire verified thus enabling producers to demand a premium price for the unique Wagyu product.

Thirdly, an exciting new UK company, TL Biolabs, has constructed a custom-built online portal to allow Members to submit animal details through to Australia, order branded tags and carry out DNA parentage work all in one single click. Users may also opt to link with BCMS to allow the statutory passport applications to go ahead within the same visit. 

In making these announcements, WBA Chairman Mike Tucker said: “Exciting times lie ahead for Wagyu pedigree and crossbred producers. We are building a strong, high-value brand which all links in the supply chain - from breeders to consumers – can have confidence in. Wagyu beef is renowned the world over as the finest-tasting and most tender but ensuring 100% food provenance is key to maintaining a premium product. This, however, needs to tie in with making sure that the breeding and marketing of Wagyu beef and genetics is as simple, straightforward and cost-effective as it can be for farmers.”

To find out more or to register your interest in attending the WBA Spring Conference, please click here. 

WBA MEETS ROYAL ACADEMY OF CULINARY ARTS

Friday 24th April saw a meeting between Wagyu Breeders Association Director Martine Chapman together with Brian Turner, President of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, and John Williams, Executive Chef of The Ritz London. Held at The Ritz, Martine was accompanied by her husband Moisin Altajir who run the noted Highland Wagyu enterprise at Burnside of Balhaldie, Dunblane, Perthshire.

Brian Turner, the well-known 'Celebrity Chef', is President of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts which was founded in 1980 and is Britain's leading professional association of head chefs and restaurant managers. The Academy’s objectives are primarily focused on the education and training of young people in the hospitality industry, recognising and rewarding talent and skill, as well as raising standards and awareness of food and food provenance.

Commenting, Martine Chapman said: "This was a really good first meeting and one we hope to build on as both our organisations share the same goals of providing great-tasting produce with assured quality and integrity. Brian and John certainly seemed to be impressed with the texture, flavour and marbling of Wagyu beef."

It is hoped that the contacts made will see a number of chefs attend the Wagyu Breeders Association Spring Conference to be held Thursday 21st to Friday 22nd May 2015 in the York area. For further information on the WBA Spring Conference and to register your interest, click here or email info@britishwagyu.co.uk.

WBA Chairman's Update

Dear Supporter,

As you are aware, the Wagyu Breeders Association (WBA) was successfully launched back in November 2014. Thanks to the support of a core number of pedigree and commercial breeders, industry bodies, farming press and sponsors, this has given the Association the confidence to build on its initial success and put in place the foundation blocks upon which to build a dynamic Breed Society.  I am therefore taking the opportunity here to write with a progress report on what has been achieved since the official launch and to invite you to attend the WBA Spring Conference taking place in and around York on Thurs 21st - Fri 22nd May to coincide with the National Beef Association's Beef Expo. 

When I think what we have achieved in that time and what we are about to announce, I really do believe exciting times for the UK beef industry and Members of the Wagyu Breeders Association lie ahead. Our aim remains to make the breeding and marketing of Wagyu beef and genetics as simple, straightforward and cost-effective as we can whilst maintaining a premium for unique Wagyu beef. 

We have agreed in principle three important contracts, and full details will be announced officially at our Spring Conference this coming May:  

- Firstly, the WBA is to work together with one of the foremost international Wagyu Associations to link in with its considerable membership, registration and performance recording facilities. We have negotiated a package which will, in short, give WBA Members automatic membership of this body at no additional cost than our standard annual membership subscription. We believe this offers excellent value for money and brings with it the added benefit of a world-class registration and performance recording facility including all that goes with it.  

- Secondly, we have negotiated considerable Member benefits with a leading Tag Company for a 'British Wagyu' branded tissue punch tag which will allow DNA parentage testing to be carried out to assure traceability and meat integrity. Doubling as a management tag, we are confident that this will enable WBA Members to not only market their Wagyu beef product using the 'British Wagyu' brand but one which will also stand up to scrutiny as and when required thus enabling producers to demand a premium price for our unique product. These tags and branding will be exclusive to WBA Members.  DNA samples can be stored free of charge for a number of years and utilised at a later date to confirm identification at point of slaughter thus ticking the box for the processor and retailer. 

- Thirdly, a 'vehicle' in the shape of a database interface then becomes necessary to tie up the administration element, so WBA will be using an exciting new UK company which has constructed for us a custom-built online portal to allow Members to submit animal details, order branded tags and carry out DNA parentage work. For both the tags and DNA, a small levy will come back to the WBA to help fund its forward work. There will also be an optional link, at additional cost for those Members that wish it, to BCMS to allow the statutory passport applications to go ahead within the same single click. 

Trusting that this has whet your appetite, the WBA Board very much hope you will be able to attend the Wagyu Breeders Association Spring Conference to be held in and around York Thurs 21st-Friday 22nd May 2015 where all the above will be rolled out, with an opportunity for existing and prospective Members and all interested parties to see it for themselves. The two-day event includes a WBA stand at the National Beef Association's Beef Expo at York Market on Thursday 21st May followed by a Farm Walk and practical demonstration of the tagging and website interface to be held courtesy of Jonathan Shepherd at Field House Farm, Tibthorpe, Driffield on the Friday. We will also be looking at the crossbred and purebred cattle under Jonathan’s management as well as sampling the best of Wagyu beef!  

Please keep an eye on the www.britishwagyu.co.uk website for further updates, plus a full programme and timings. We look forward to seeing you again in May so you can hear for yourself all the Wagyu news and benefits that are going to be on offer. If you would like to attend, please register your interest by sending an email to info@britishwagyu.co.uk. British Wagyu is a brand which we are confident is going places and we thank you for your continued interest and support. Do keep an eye on the website for all the latest news and WBA announcements.

With regards, 

Mike Tucker
Chairman, Wagyu Breeders Association

Jim Bloom to represent Wagyu Breeders Association at World Wagyu Conference

Jim Bloom, Board Member of the Wagyu Breeders Association (WBA) and Director of The Yorkshire Wagyu Co is officially representing the Association at the World Wagyu Conference at Yeppoon in Queensland, Australia from 8-10 May. His father, also Jim Bloom, the well known cattleman as well as former Chairman of the Limousin Cattle Society, will be accompanying his son.

One of the main speakers at the World Wagyu Conference will be Rob Cumine who farms several hundred Wagyu down in West Wales in partnership with Will Pritchard under the 'Natural Wagyu' banner. Rob is also currently Head of Agriculture for Coles, the biggest supermarket in Australia. Rob gave an excellent paper at the WBA launch held in Tetbury, Glocs last November and spoke very highly of the way the Australian Wagyu Association was developing Wagyu meat worldwide. 

Jim Bloom and his father will be recounting details of their trip on Friday May 22nd at the Wagyu Breeders Assocation Spring Conference due to be held at Jonathan Shepherd's farm at Field House Farm, Huggate Road, Tibthorpe, Driffield, YO25 9J2. If you are interesting in attending the Spring Conference, please click here for more information and to register your interest.

2015 World Wagyu Conference, May 8-10, Australia

An invitation is extended by the Australian Wagyu Association (AWA) to all British Wagyu Breeders and enthusiasts to attend the World Wagyu Conference to be held in Yeppoon, Queensland, Australia 8-10 May 2015. This will be followed by the Pride of Australia Wagyu Outback Tour 10-13 May.

Rob Cumine, who farms several hundred Wagyu down in West Wales with Will Pritchard and is Head of Agriculture for Coles the biggest supermarket in Australia will be one of the main speakers at the conference. Rob, who farms under the ‘Natural Wagyu’ banner gave an excellent paper at the W.B.A launch at Church Farm, Tetbury last November and spoke very highly of the way the Australian Wagyu Association was developing Wagyu meat worldwide. For full information on the World Wagyu conference, including a full programme and details on how to register click here.

Representing the Wagyu Breeders Association at the conference will be Board Member, Jim Bloom who will attend the World Wagyu Conference with his Father and very well known cattleman and former Chairman and Director of the Limousin Cattle Society, Jim Bloom. They will both be recounting about their trip on May 22nd at the Wagyu Breeders Association Spring Conference, which will take place at Jonathon Shepard's Farm at Field House Farm, Huggate Rd. Tibthorpe, Driffield YO25 9J2. 

GOLD AWARD FOR WAGYU STEAK

A Wagyu steak from Wagyu Breeders Association Member Rob Pratt of Breeding Vision Ltd, Home Farm, Northall, Dunstable, Beds has achieved a Gold Award in EBLEX’s ‘England’s Best Sirloin Steak 2015’ competition. Not only did the Wagyu-cross sirloin steak achieve this top classification, but it also placed as one of the top three highest scoring steaks in the ‘Independent Retailer’ category.  Rob now joins EBLEX as a guest at the Quality Standard Mark Excellence Awards ceremony taking place at the Underglobe, London on Wednesday 22nd April 2015 where one category finalist will be announced as ‘Category Winner’ before the ‘Overall Winner’ of ‘England’s Best Sirloin Steak 2015’ is announced. Many congratulations to Rob who will now be able to use the 'Gold Medal' artwork on packaging, menus, point-of-sale material and online to promote his achievement.

 

Wagyu 'For Sale' Section Open For Business

The Wagyu Breeders Association (WBA) website www.britishwagyu.co.uk is now offering a 'For Sale' section in which Members of the WBA can market their livestock and genetics. Please visit the 'The Breed' section and click into 'For Sale' to find listings of Fullblood and crossbred cattle as well as embryos and semen. Alternatively, click here http://www.britishwagyu.co.uk/for-sale/.  To make use of this service, would Members please email full details including breeding, age, location and contact information to info@britishwagyu.co.uk. Wishing you a prosperous New Year's trading!