BRITISH WAGYU MARKET SHARE UP 27%

Figures released by the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) for 2022 show that British Wagyu, known for its highly marbled premium beef, has increased its numbers by 27% on the year. The figures, for beef cattle born in England, Wales & Scotland, reveal over 17,000 Wagyu-sired calves were born in 2022. Of these, 15,933 were crossbred (sired by a Wagyu bull) and 1,150 purebred or Fullblood - totalling 17,083 head of Wagyu animals when compared to 13,457 in 2021. Please click HERE for full breakdown.

Chris Dickinson

Says WBA Director Chris Dickinson: “It’s great to see British Wagyu numbers continuing to grow year-on-year and a further sign that Wagyu in the UK is much more than just a ‘fad’. The profile of the breed has risen dramatically over the past 2-3 years and is now a significant player in the UK beef industry. As both Wagyu producer and WBA Director, I can’t wait to see where we can get to in the coming years.”

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