WAGYU EDGE CONFERENCE, AUSTRALIA, APRIL 2023

Emily Rabone, Marketing & Communications Manager at the Australian Wagyu Association, writes with details of the forthcoming Wagyu Edge Conference…

Dear International Members,

A quick email to formally invite you to join us for our biggest and best conference yet - WagyuEdge23 - in Sydney, Australia from the 19th to 24th April. I know a lot of you are already making plans to join us but I just wanted to let you know that there are now only 30 spots left on our post conference tour starting on the 22nd April.

WagyuEdge23 Conference – 19th to 21st April. WagyuEdge23, hosted by the Australian Wagyu Association, is the leading international forum for the global Wagyu sector presenting a unique opportunity for Australian and international delegates to meet, find new partners, discuss challenges and share research, technologies and best practice. An exciting mixture of industry events will take place in and around Darling Harbour, Sydney.

Held waterside adjacent to Darling Harbour at Hyatt Regency Sydney, WagyuEdge23 will also feature the Wagyu Branded Beef Awards Dinner held at Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf with outstanding views of the Harbour Bridge, city skyline and Darling Harbour, the Elite Wagyu Sale while cruising the shimmering waters of Sydney Harbour and a not to be missed industry dinner.

WagyuEdge23 Regional Tour – 22nd to 24th April. After the conference, join the buses for an unforgettable regional NSW tour. We will visit three Wagyu operations during the tour: Kuro Kin Wagyu, a leading producer of Fullblood Wagyu and F1 Wagyu. Bald Ridge Wagyu, specialising in fullblood black and red Wagyu and Gooree Park Mudgee, a producer of Wagyu, thoroughbreds and wine. Buses will depart Sydney Saturday 22 April, returning to Sydney airport by 1pm Monday 24 April. Limited seats are available on the tour bus. Book early to avoid missing out.

The whole event promises to deliver inspirational learning, connection and celebration. For more information and for all registration and accommodation links, please head to our website. https://www.wagyu.org.au/sales-events/wagyuedge

Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to welcoming all of our international friends to Sydney in April.

Emily Rabone

Marketing and Communications Manager emily@wagyu.org.au

WINTER 2022/23 NEWSLETTER

We hope you enjoy reading the latest Wagyu Breeders Association Newsletter which was posted to Members at the end of 2022. Please click HERE to access it. If you would like a copy sending out to you, please email Company Secretary Richard Saunders info@britishwagyu.co.uk.

WAGYU GLOBAL MARKETS

As we head into 2023, Wagyu Breeders Association Company Secretary, Richard Saunders, takes a look at some of the latest insights into worldwide Wagyu beef trends with the global Wagyu beef market expected to reach up to 34.87 Billion USD by 2029. Click HERE for the full report.

BRITISH WAGYU ASSURANCE SCHEME BUILDS ON RED TRACTOR CERTIFICATION

BRITISH WAGYU ASSURANCE SCHEME BUILDS ON RED TRACTOR CERTIFICATION

 The Wagyu Breeders Association (WBA) has teamed up with leading farm assurance certification bodies SAI Global and NSF to underpin their British Wagyu Assurance Scheme. As all its 200+ partner farmers are already Red Tractor members, the WBA has added a ‘bolt-on’ to the farm’s regular Red Tractor audit for cost-effectiveness and ease of use. This means assessors can check the additional stipulations of the WBA Assurance Scheme at the same time as the usual on-farm audit.

WBA Company Secretary Richard Saunders (l) and Warrendale Wagyu Production Director Jamie Brownrigg (r) pictured with Red Tractor Technical Manager Jemma Holden at October’s Borderway Agri Expo

 These include:

  • Whole-life Red Tractor assured status

  • British Wagyu-branded approved eartag

  • Wagyu DNA sire verification

  • Dams either dairy-bred or native breeds

  • BVD tested virus negative

  • Minimum slaughter age 24 months

Trademarked logo of British Wagyu Assured

 

Commenting, WBA Director Chris Dickinson said: “The British Wagyu assurance scheme leads the industry in terms of traceability, animal welfare and consumer trust, enhancing in turn the integrity and value of premium Wagyu beef.”

WBA Company Secretary Richard Saunders (r) & Warrendale Wagyu Production Director Jamie Brownrigg (c) pictured with SAI Global UK & Ireland Agriculture Development Manager Nik Searston (l)

Red Tractor is the flagship logo of British food and farming

 Red Tractor Beef & Lamb Board Chairman, John Dracup, added: “As the UK’s most trusted assurance scheme, Red Tractor provides the confidence to UK shoppers and diners, that beef carrying its logo has been produced with care, and delivers the high standards expected of British farmers and growers. Red Tractor ensures that the Wagyu beef scheme is a traceable product which meets high levels of animal welfare.”

Full rules around the WBA Assurance Scheme can be found on www.britishwagyu.co.uk.

WORLD WAGYU COUNCIL WEBSITE GOES LIVE

We are pleased to announce the launch of the World Wagyu Council website. In 2021, the WBA became a founding member of the World Wagyu Council whose mission is to enhance the Wagyu brand internationally. The World Wagyu Council is comprised of Wagyu breed associations and societies from countries around the world dedicated to cooperative efforts and initiatives for members to promote and develop the integrity of the Wagyu breed and brand internationally. Please click HERE to view the new website.

BEEF EXPO WAGYU SHOWCASE

The Wagyu Breeders Association & Warrendale Wagyu joined together to present a tremendous showcase of British Wagyu at the National Beef Association Beef Expo held at Darlington Farmers Mart on Saturday 28th May 2022.

This was the first time that Wagyu cattle had been presented at an industry-wide event and a combination of technical information, videos, literature and the cattle themselves saw British Wagyu win the Best Breed Stand award.

Mark Dent, DFAM Chairman (centre), presenting the Best Stand prize to (l-r) Jamie Brownrigg, Richard Saunders, Ed Martinson & Katrina Little

One of Warrendale Wagyu’s local partner farmers, Mark Elson of Hall Farm, Hornby supplied the Wagyu F1 finishing cattle which were all sired by the high-marbling Australian bull Peppermill Grove and out of Holstein cows. They were made up of three steers aged 24-25 months and two 24-month-old heifers weighing up to 750kg.

Wagyu crossbred steers and heifers aged 24-25 months

Mark Elson (left) pictured with Warrendale Wagyu Production Director Jamie Brownrigg

Thank you to all those who made the event such a success.

(l-r) Katrina Little, Mark Elson, Jamie Brownrigg & Ed Martinson from Warrendale Wagyu

GREAT TURNOUT AT WAGYU OPEN MEEETING & AGM

BRITISH WAGYU OPEN MEETING & AGM 14 APRIL

Wyndford Wagyu Team

 The Wagyu Breeders Association held its Open Meeting & AGM on 14th April at Wyndford Wagyu, Shropshire, courtesy of Philip Maddocks. A great turnout saw members and guests joined by sponsors and partners along with Wagyu breeders from Northern Ireland, Germany and the Republic of Ireland.

 Welcoming all attendees, Company Secretary Richard Saunders reported that the association was continuing to grow at pace both in terms of numbers of cattle registrations and membership with over 13,000 Wagyu-sired births – up about a third on the year – and more than 150 Fullblood breeders, commercial and associate members.

 Wagyu is a unique breed with unique opportunities

He explained that Wagyu is a special breed of cattle with a genetic predisposition to be easy calving with low birthweight, short gestation, easy managed and very fertile. Then comes Wagyu’s USP – its great marbling which not only brings a tender, rich and juicy taste but it is this marbling that is full of monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid, omega 3s and 6s – the heart-healthy ‘good’ fats.

 “So, all in all we have a fantastic and unique product – the breed itself, its highly marbled meat plus let’s not forget Wagyu’s ability to deliver a premium to all parts of the supply chain,” he said.

 He concluded by saying the WBA also has major industry backing with a number of important retailers on board, and a strong relationship with tag manufacturer Caisley along with Genus who provider DNA verification and evaluations. MIJ carcase camera technology alongside a partnership with the Australian Wagyu Association would further allow the association to measure, record and reward the quality it produces.

 Directors Q&A Round Table

WBA Directors Chris Dickinson, Hugh Pocock and Jim Bloom joined their fellow Director Philip Maddocks for a Q&A session on British Wagyu’s vision and growth plan for the association. This included news of the new digital marketing campaign highlighting Wagyu as the world’s luxury beef along with details of the further roll-out of the innovative quality assurance scheme.

 Creating a great British Wagyu brand

The Directors felt that up to now British Wagyu had been promoted well to the beef industry but the next step was to embark on an ambitious marketing plan aimed at the public in terms of ‘push-pull’ momentum so that consumers generate demand which in turn drives the whole industry forward. It was felt that the association had only just scratched the surface in promoting the eating quality and health benefits of Wagyu.

 Enhancing its British Wagyu Assurance Scheme

Having already established a set of standards for its premium British Wagyu marque, the WBA announced details of an agreement put in place with an independent certifying organisation to further bolster and protect its British Wagyu Quality Assurance branding. 

Farm Tour

Wyndford Wagyu Commercial Director, Jess Edwards, then led a tour of the farm giving an in-depth explanation of their seedstock and embryo programme, calf-rearing protocols encompassing feed and nutrition, selection and breeding, finishing diets. The day concluded with a delicious lunch and Wagyu tasting menu. Members went away full of enthusiasm and praise for a well-run and informative day. Grateful thanks are extended to all the team at Wyndford Wagyu especially Philip Maddocks and Jess Edwards.