The Australian Wagyu Update by Australian Wagyu Association

UPDATE

TH E AUSTRALIAN

WAGYU

ISSUE 55

DEC 2013

The Australian Wagyu Update is produced by the Australian Wagyu Association Ltd. on behalf of the membership

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China's beef buying boom Wagyu boosts fertility as well as meat quality Beef freeze fails to cool demand The importance of feed conversion Gold flows for Wagyu beef How science blends with art Keep up with genetic progress or suffer consequences Achieving an increased rate of genetic gain

DATES for THE DIARY ■■

2014 National Wagyu Conference OCT 10 - 12. RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast, QLD. This follows ALFA's Beefex conference at the same venue.

NEW PRESIDENT TO 'ADVANCE BREEDING AND MARKETING' It is with great honour that I put together my first report as the newly elected President of the Australian Wagyu Association. I am looking forward to working diligently with industry to help advance Wagyu breeding and marketing in Australia.

TOP A section of the crowd at the 2013 Wagyu Conference at The Pier, Geelong. INSET Newly elected President of the Australian Wagyu Association - Scott de Bruin.

With our own operations at Mayura Station we have developed a herd of over 2000 Fullblood breeders and a total operation encompassing over 5500 head of Fullblood Wagyu cattle. A purpose built on-farm feedlot finishes our livestock which are used in our branded boxed beef program sold in key international markets. We are involved in fully registering and performance recording our cattle with the Association to drive BREEDPLAN based genetic improvement. Also we have been actively involved in the Wagyu Collaborative Genetics Research Project with over 600 Fullblood progeny carcase images analysed so far this year. The Research Project has delivered new research EBV’s, describing the genetic difference in Aus-Meat Marble Score, Marbling

percentage, fineness of marbling and Rib Eye Area which were released at this year’s Wagyu National Conference and are looking very promising for the identification of new sire’s for the Wagyu industry. There have been some 1854 carcases analysed in the Research Project to date using both Aus-Meat grading and Japanese digital camera analysis, a significant step for our industry in defining EBV’s related directly to carcase performance. It is worth noting that in the top 10 sires with the new carcase trait EBVs there are four new Australian bred sires that can match it with imported AI semen. I would like to encourage more of our members to be involved in this project to help find the new generation of genetics to take our industry into the future. Continued on Page 6

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DECEMBER 2013

CHINA’S BEEF BUYING BOOM Latest figures indicate China’s Australian beef imports in 2013 of 140,000 tonnes will be almost five times the volume it purchased from Australia in 2012. China has shot past Korea to be Australia’s third largest beef customer behind Japan and the USA with industry commentators suggesting China will surpass the USA if the trends continue.

Sarah Sivyer, Senior Analyst, Rabobank was keynote speaker at the 2013 Wagyu National Conference.

Rabobank’s SARAH SIVYER explained China’s growth at the 2013 Wagyu National Conference. Reports of Australia 'beefing up' its exports to China have been plentiful this year, and the opportunities continue to grow. Rabobank senior animal protein analyst Sarah Sivyer told the annual Wagyu conference that exports of beef to China have gone from 600 tonnes a month to 15,000 tonnes plus a month in little more than a year. This has had positive impacts for both countries said Ms Sivyer, who has recently released a report which called for Australia and New Zealand to beef up their presence in China. "Australia was able to step up and supply China, but at the same time, if you look at that from the other perspective, if China hadn't come along when it did, things could have been a little bit worse for wear, relative to what they were," she said. While beef only makes up eight per cent of the protein consumption in China, a number of factors have contributed to its increased demand for Australian product in recent months, including the banning of Brazilian import and the stagnation of the country's own beef production. "We've seen Chinese beef production, domestic production, stagnate," Ms Sivyer said. "The country got to a point, between 2006 and 2009, where it was starting to cull a lot of its females and we, at the moment, don't expect in the short-term for Chinese production to lift, or make a significant steep change." Currently the Chinese population consume

on average four kilograms of beef a year, Ms Sivyer reported, with the most growth in per person beef consumption being seen in the middle income group. By 2020, the middle income group will make up almost 50 per cent of China's total population, and if the average per person consumption was to increase by just 0.5kg, the demand would account for two thirds of all beef exports internationally from Australia. Australian Wagyu Association chair Scott De Bruin, said you often hear about the opportunities for Australia to provide food into the growing Asian market. "Wagyu, being a premium product, has a great opportunity to capitalise on this situation - there are exciting opportunities to supply that middle class growing demand," he said. Mr De Bruin said the breed has to present a unified industry so the Australian Wagyu product continues to be wellaccepted in international markets. "As with all beef producers, some of the biggest challenges are what's going on in other parts of the world," he said. "The rise of other Wagyu industries in northern and southern America for instance, there is a lot of growth in those markets, so we need to be focussed on producing a high-quality article that can stand out from the crowd and be true to Wagyu characteristics." Recently retired AWA council member Dom Bayard has been exporting Wagyu genetics to China for a number of years and said China is seeking Wagyu,

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a high-end product, as part of its desire to westernise. "The population of China is so large, and it wants that quality product, that is a huge market to fill - we would struggle to fill it," he said. "We will also see increased genetic export from Australia - we have a good reputation and genetically have a lot to offer." Rabobank's report showed that not only have the amount of carcases heading to China from Australia increased, but also the amount of the carcase being used, with more lean beef in particular being further processed in China. And with between eight and 20pc of Chinese arable land thought to have been damaged by pollution, food safety and cleanliness is of growing importance in China. Recent bans have seen chilled beef exports to China halted completely, allegedly because of food safety concerns. AACo's Troy Setter said it was the company's premium, clean, green, safe product that offered the biggest marketability overseas. "There's a lot of energy for free trade agreements (FTAs) to get resolved with Korea, Japan and China and we are encouraged by that," he said. "We want them completed as soon as possible without compromising the producers." n STORY BY

Jamie-Lee Oldfield Stock & Land

NEWS WAGYU - NO 'ONE TRICK' PONY

WAGYU BOOSTS FERTILITY AS WELL AS MEAT QUALITY The world’s largest beef producer has discovered that Wagyu is not a ‘one trick pony’ and can be used to boost fertility as well as eating quality in composite breeding programs. Beef Centrals' JON CONDON discovered this while interviewing AACo’s COO during the 2013 Wagyu National Conference.

Red Wagyu genetics are being into the AACo’s northern composite programs to lift fertility and build meat quality.

Red Wagyu genetics are being injected into the Australian Agricultural Co's large northern composite cattle breeding programs in a move to lift fertility and build on meat quality performance, the company has confirmed. Chief operating officer Troy Setter outlined the plans to Beef Central while discussing feed conversion trials. The intention is not to claim any Wagyu crossbred ‘identity’ in brands carrying the resultant beef from the composite program, but simply to lift fertility and deliver higher meat quality performance. Some of those early Wagyu infused bulls are already in composite herds, but most will go out in 2014, Mr Setter said, while attending the Australian Wagyu Association's annual conference in Geelong.

There are some pretty exciting fertility lines among the Red Wagyu. The company has selected Red Wagyu over black, because of their better muscling and frame score, while retaining high fertility and carcase traits. “We really did it for the fertility

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

DECEMBER 2013

component – the higher marbling performance is really a bonus,” Mr Setter said. “There are some pretty exciting fertility lines among the Red Wagyu.” Over time, those Red Wagyu genetics could represent 25pc of AACo’s ‘softer’ Barkly composite cattle (currently Senepol, Charolais, Santa Gertrudis, Bonsmara-based), but at this point at least will not be incorporated into the second, more tropically-adapted Gulf composite cattle (higher Indicus). As part of the composite development, AACo supplied Red Wagyu semen to a heavily performance-recorded Red Brahman herd in Central Queensland, which has produced the crossbreds that will find their way as ‘building blocks’ into the AACo composite program. Another large, prominent northern Wagyu breeder, Peter Hughes, has for some years predicted the greater adoption of a splash of Wagyu genetics in composite breeding programs, for both meat quality and fertility reasons. Clear marbling and fertility trait links were demonstrated in earlier Beef CRC work, where females with the ability to carry more intramuscular fat are also those with higher fertility potential and earlier puberty. n

CHINA'S BEEF APPETITE NEWS

CHINA’S BEEF FREEZE FAILS TO COOL DEMAND China’s appetite for Australian beef continues to forge ahead despite the unfathomable chilled beef ban supposedly for ‘health’ reasons or perhaps misinterpretation of labeling. The first customers arrive at the Chop House in Shanghai as Greg Davis is sharpening his knife. The Brisbane butcher lets the two Chinese men settle into a booth at the city's newest steak house, before wheeling over his trolley laden with nearly 10 kilograms of Australian Wagyu beef. Helped by a translator, Davis explains the grain-fed beef is from the Darling Downs in Queensland and has been dry-aged for 45 days. His soft sell works and the men agree to share a 1.2 kilogram steak for the astonishing price of $360 – equivalent to the average fortnightly wage in Shanghai. On a busy night Davis will carve 80 of these steaks from whole ribs and tell customers they are about to eat some of the best beef on offer anywhere in the world. But that claim is now under threat: the Chinese government banned imports of chilled Australian beef in late August, citing health concerns.

Queensland Country Life’s ANGUS GRIGG explains how the ban is affecting a Chop House in Shanghai where diners are prepared to pay $360 for a 1.2 kg Australian Wagyu steak.

produced beef in China and expectations that prices are set to continue rising rapidly. Cao Binghai, the chief researcher at the National Beef Cattle Industrial Technology Group, is calling it a "beef crisis". He expects domestic prices to rise a further 35 per cent by the end of the year and says China's supply shortage won't be solved in the next 10 to 15 years. "I expect beef consumption in China to grow at 6 per cent a year and continue to do so over the next decade," he said. For Australia, which supplies 80 per cent of China's imported beef, the growth in exports has been nothing short of staggering. That makes China the third-biggest buyer of Australian beef after Japan and the United States. It is yet another example of how the trade relationship is gradually broadening away from minerals to agricultural commodities and services. "Even if Australia diverted all its exports to China, it would not satisfy our demand," says Cao. But for now that demand will have to be satisfied, with frozen rather than chilled beef. n

"It took everyone by surprise," says Davis. "We rushed to get as much in as we could." Davis reckons his 600-kilogram stockpile of chilled beef would not last long, after which customers will be eating frozen Australian beef. "Once you freeze a product you do lose some flavour," says Davis, who began working in his father's butcher shop in Mackay in north Queensland at the age of six. "It's not the done thing [freezing beef] in the Western world." For the Chop House, the abrupt decision to ban chilled beef is particularly galling as the steak house, located in the new Shangri-La Hotel, has gone to great lengths to secure the best Australian beef on offer. Its beef menu includes the Wagyu bonein rib eye from Stanbroke Pastoral Company and grass-fed Wagyu from Tasmania as well as Black Angus from central Queensland. So particular about quality was the Shangri-La's executive chef, Franco Brodini, that he made two research trips to Australia to source beef. "The grass-fed Wagyu from Cape Grim in Tasmania is arguably the best beef in the world," says Davis. "Freezing it is not ideal." The idea of having Davis on the restaurant floor explaining the nuances of a good steak is part of a joint venture between Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), Elders and the Shangri-La to promote high-end Australian beef in China. The initiative, the first of its kind, had only been running for two months when the chilled beef ban was introduced. Davis says many won't notice the difference, but it won't be Australian beef at its best. The ban was introduced despite a major shortage of locally

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AWA PRESIDENT'S REPORT

New president to 'advance breeding and marketing' Continued from Page 1

If you would like to be involved please contact our Executive Officer Graham Truscott. On behalf of the Association I would like to thank the retiring AWA board members, Scott Hughes, Greg Gibbons and Dom Bayard. Their efforts over a long service period to develop the Association to what it is today are highly commendable. I would also like to acknowledge Lachie Hart for his outstanding contribution to the AWA. I wish the retiring board members all the best with their endeavours into the future.

The 2013 Wagyu National Conference was held at The Pier in Geelong, Victoria with some 200 attendees thoroughly enjoying the fine food, fellowship and great information presented at the conference. The Wagyu flag welcomed visitors.

YOUR NEW BOARD

WELL ORGANISED CONFERENCE

Our new board was appointed at the 24th Annual General Meeting with office bearers elected at the following board meeting. I’m pleased to advise your board for 2013/2014 is:

This year’s Wagyu National Conference in Geelong was a very well organised educational event covering many important issues in the ongoing development of the Wagyu breed in Australia, and this Wagyu Update focuses on the conference and its presentations. The support from our membership in their attendance was terrific and it was great to see so many familiar faces. I look forward to meeting many more of the Association’s current and future members. The Black Tie Gala Dinner was a great event, with the inclusion of the Wagyu Branded Beef Competition awards presentation adding a new level of entertainment. Congratulations to all of the participants in this prestigious competition.

President Scott deBruin (SA) Senior Vice President Frank Whitford (VIC) Junior Vice President Darren Hamblin (QLD) Honorary Treasurer John Spreadborough (QLD) Magazine Editor Ron Fitzgerald (QLD) Directors Peter Gilmour (WA) John Hammond (TAS) Sam Hughes (QLD/NSW) Bob Officer (VIC) Chantel Winter (NSW)

Over the next year the Association shall focus on the following strategies; ■■

Enhance the value of the Australian Wagyu herdbook

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Enhance the value of the Wagyu brand

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Assist members to identify superior genetics

Corporate affairs

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Undertake R & D Disseminate knowledge and education. Promote the Wagyu breed.

The board has developed sub-committee’s in the following area’s to gain tighter focus on these areas of board responsibility: ■■ Strategic planning ■■

Conference

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Genetic improvement

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Finance

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Audit and risk.

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We are delighted that retiring board members Scott Hughes, Greg Gibbons and Dom Bayard have offered to advise and to be involved in a number of our sub-committee’s and we appreciate their ongoing assistance.

EDITOR Ron Fitzgerald email salisburywagyu1@bigpond.com phone 07 4692 7795 PUBLISHER The Australian Wagyu Association Graham Truscott - Executive Officer email office@wagyu.org.au phone 02 6773 3355 website www.wagyu.org.au

As the calendar year draws to a close I hope that the season in the south finishes well with good crops yields. Also, that more rain arrives in the areas of the north that are in need to start a fresh growing season. I wish all our members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Scott de Bruin

CONTRIBUTORS Scott de Bruin, Graham Truscott, Geoff Phillips, Jamie-Lee Oldfield, Angus Grigg, and Jon Condon.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S DESK

A BUSY END TO 2013 WITH MUCH PLANNED FOR 2014 The last quarter is generally one of the busiest for the Association, with Board elections, Annual General Meeting and the national conference all rolled together. Geelong certainly turned on a wonderful conference at The Pier with some 200 attendees thoroughly enjoying the fine food, fellowship and great information to take their businesses forward.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The AGM was well attended with 68 recorded attendees, demonstrating the great interest and commitment members have to the Wagyu breed and its Association. The President and Executive Officer provided detailed reports on progress in many areas of Association business. These and a fully audited set of financial reports are available in the 2013 Annual Report which wagyu.org.au may be found at Retiring Board members Scott Hughes, Greg Gibbons and Dom Bayard were thanked for the remarkable 22 years combined service in the Board. New Board members Peter Gilmour, Darren Hamblin, John Hammond, Sam Hughes and Chantal Winter were welcomed. Crowe Horwarth (previously WHK) was again appointed auditor for 2014.

GENETIC IMPROVEMENT Wagyu Collaborative Genetic Research Project – STAGE ONE The project has been very actively collecting carcase data throughout this year using the Japanese digital camera and its image analysis. Nearly 2000 carcase data records have been collected and these have been analysed by the Animal Genetics & Breeding Unit (AGBU) to produce new carcase research Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) which were presented at the conference. While a large amount of performance data has been collected, the difficulty has been identification and access to the animals’

DNA samples. As a result, the targeted 2000 genotypes are still being collected to develop genomically enhanced EBVs. Therefore the due dates of the Project Milestones have necessarily been extended as indicated below to complete the project and so move into Stage 2.

> Graham

EBVs were presented to the AWA conference on 12 October. ■■

MILESTONE 7 Discovery population genotyped (Target: 1000 genotypes) DUE: 1 July 2013 STATUS: Propose new start date 1 Dec 2013 due by 28 Feb 2014 ■■

Meat samples have been taken using SureTrack kits from almost all carcases which have been camera imaged by AWA and 808 low density genotypes completed.

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DNA samples for the approximately 1100 animals imaged by AACo in 2011 and 2012 are still being actively pursued through both UQ and Zoetis, with potential to obtain a further 230 genotypes from these.

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This milestone with 1000 genotypes should be completed by end February 2014.

MILESTONE 8 Discovery population EBVs produced from combined genotypes and phenotypes DUE: 28 May 2013 STATUS: Propose new start date 1 Dec 2013 due by 28 Mar 2014 ■■

AGBU has analysed the Discovery Population dataset using the standard BREEDPLAN technology, determined trait heritability’s, and produced research AUS-MEAT and digital camera carcase Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs). The research EBVs were: AUS-MEAT Carcase Weight, AUS-MEAT Marble Score, Camera Marbling Percentage, Camera Fineness of Marbling Index and Camera Rib Eye Area. Sire lists containing the research

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Truscott

Executive Officer, AWA

AGBU have advised they expect to conduct the first BREEDPLAN “single pass” genomic analysis using the Genomic Relationship Matrix in January 2013. The AWA dataset is expected to be one of the first to be used in this analysis. In addition, AGBU has recommended that AWA genotype the sires of the progeny at between 80K SNP. This will involve some 160 bulls which will fit within the cost of the project. Therefore AWA expects to be able to offer AGBU some 1100 genotypes (808 LD from progeny, 160 80K from sires of those progeny, and 130 HD from the original sires/ET dams).

MILESTONE 10 Validation population cohort data collected and entered into AWA database DUE: 31 July 2013 STATUS: Propose new start date 1 Mar 2014 due by 31 May 2014 ■■

With AWA collection of 100 carcase images and DNA meat samples per month, AWA will have collected a further 600 genotypes by end May.

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Regardless of final phenotype/DNA sample collection, this Milestone will be closed end May 2014.

MILESTONE 11 Validation population genotyped DUE: 31 Aug 2013 STATUS: Propose new start date 1 Mar 2014 due by 30 Jun 2014 ■■

All available DNA will be genotyped by end June 2014.

The Allflex integrated tagging unit including matching NLIS, eartag and Tissue Sampling Unit and applicator.

MILESTONE 12

For more information contact Graham Truscott or Barb O’Shea EMAIL graham.truscott@abri.une.edu.au barb.oshea@abri.une.edu.au

Effectiveness of Wagyu genomic test and discovery population EBVs established through discovery EBV – Validation phenotype correlation DUE: 30 Sept 2013 STATUS: Propose new start date 1 Jun 2014 due by 30 Jun 2014 ■■

AGBU will be encouraged to use all available data to complete this Milestone by end June 2014.

MILESTONE 13 Effectiveness of ultrasonic scanning prediction of Wagyu carcase traits determined through correlation of scanning to phenotypes DUE: 31 Aug 2013 STATUS: Propose new start date 1 Apr 2014 due by 30 Apr 2014 ■■

AGBU has conducted initial correlations between ultrasonic scanning for carcase traits, AUS-MEAT Marble Score and Camera Marbling Percentage. This work should be completed by end April 2014.

MILESTONE 14 Stage 2 planning approved by AWA Board and MDC Stage 2 application submitted DUE: 30 Sept 2013 STATUS: Propose new start date 1 Jan 2014 due by 30 Jun 2014 ■■

The Board has begun planning Stage 2, which has necessarily relied on the outcomes of Stage 1.

MILESTONE 15 Final report to AWA and MDC DUE: 31 Aug 2013 STATUS: Propose new start date 1 July 2014 due by 31 July 2014

MILESTONE 16 Project coordination completed DUE: 31 Aug 2013 STATUS: Propose new start date 1 July 2014 due by 31 July 2014

FREE BREEDPLAN BREEDPLAN enrolment and performance data entry is now free. Enrol today and enter that cupboard full of weight and ultrasonic

PERCENTAGE WAGYU CONTENT DNA TEST

scan data you have been collecting on your registered animals over the years. There is no charge; it only costs your time. You will receive EBVs on your breeding animals to assist with their selection and breeding decisions. More data provides higher accuracy. See the “Wagyu - Achieving an Increased Rate of Genetic Gain” article for contact details.

SMARTREC The Smart Recording System (SMARTREC) has been completed and two orders for Allflex tag bundles have been submitted through the system. As those members mark their calves they will apply the NLIS and ear tags and take an ear notch DNA sample using the Tissue Sampling Unit. To register the calves they will visit the AWA website and input their multiple sire and multiple dam mating groups (where a number of registered bulls have been run with a mob of registered cows). The calf tag number will be selected from a drop-down list on the registration screen, sire and dam identifiers added (or multiple sire and multiple dam mating group identifiers) and DNA tests ordered for parent verification and genetic condition tests. They will then send the TSU containing the DNA samples directly to the University of Queensland Animal Genetics Laboratory (UQ). AWA will receive the registration request and send and receive all DNA information to and from UQ on the member’s behalf. We have all the registered animal details needed on file including DNA case numbers so members won’t have to worry about those details anymore. If there are any problems with DNA testing UQ will contact members directly to resolve them. Finally, AWA will register the animals and invoice the member for the DNA testing and registration fees.

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AWA is working with UQ to develop a DNA test to determine the content of Wagyu genetics in an animal from a hair, tissue or meat sample. Methods have been developed to estimate breed content using a panel of ~6,000 SNP that are present on the GeneSeek Genomic Profiler-20K SNP chip. Simulations with Beef Cooperative Research Centre data (estimating breed content in both Bos indicus and Bos taurus breeds and their crosses) have demonstrated accuracies of >98%. These preliminary simulations have outlined the number of individuals in the training population that are required to achieve high accuracy when estimating breed content in closely related crosses (eg. Hereford content in Shorthorn X Angus crosses), and the number required when estimating breed content in distantly related crosses (eg. Brahman content in Charbray cattle). SNP genotyping has been undertaken on Full blood and Purebred Wagyu, and F1, F2 and F3 Wagyu cross cattle with an additional 600 F1-F3 genotypes required. Final analyses are pending although preliminary results are very promising.

ADMINISTRATION The Association moved to the ABRI provided International Livestock Recording system version 2 (ILR2) last year for membership and animal registration transactions plus performance data input for BREEDPLAN. The final component, integrated debtor management, has been included in the last quarter, enabling automated invoicing and end-month statement generation. A key benefit of ILR2 is the monthly running of the BREEDPLAN analysis, providing much more up-to-date EBVs for animal selection and breeding.

Graha m Truscott 9

NEWS CONVERTING FEED INTO BODYWEIGHT

THE IMPORTANCE OF FEED CONVERSION With feedlot ration prices hitting two-year highs recently, it’s little wonder beef producing giant AACo is pushing forward with a genetic selection project designed to deliver cattle that can more efficiently convert feed – whether it be grass or grain-based – into bodyweight. Beef Central’s JON CONDON reports.

The Australian Agricultural Co will this year send some of its first young Wagyu and composite bulls measured for feed efficiency into the paddock, having earlier spent about $500,000 installing a GrowSafe feed conversion efficiency testing station at its Goonoo feedlot in Central Queensland.

Feed conversion rates vary widely and AACo has set out to identify the high performers from the poor performers.

Add the feeding cost component, and the company’s investment in measuring feed conversion performance in its seedstock animals will go well past $1 million, but the long-term payback has the potential to be ‘extremely rewarding,’ indications suggest. The Goonoo facility has the capacity to test around 500 head of cattle each year, measuring intake and bodyweight gain data on an individual animal basis. The testing station is being used to analyse a spectrum of young bulls (and potentially, elite females to be used for embryo work) from Fullblood Wagyu through to component cattle being used to develop the company’s composite breeding programs. Three batches of young cattle have now gone through the facility. “It’s allowing us to identify the outliers, for both good and bad feed conversion efficiency,” chief operating officer Troy Setter told Beef Central at the annual Australian Wagyu Association conference in Geelong. “In the early stages it’s every bit as important to identify those poor feed converters, and get rid of them, as it is to find and select from the high performers,” Mr Setter said. “As production costs in Australia continue to rise, we

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

have to focus more heavily on traits like feed conversion ability. Fertility has up to now been a big driver in breeding cattle, but feed conversion efficiency, together with carcase quality are areas where we are now doing more work.” As any animal production/nutrition textbook will describe, there is enormous variation in net feed conversion efficiency among beef cattle, and the early results shown in AACo’s testing station work are no different. While the industry generally regards net feed conversion efficiency (measured as kilograms of feed per kilogram of bodyweight gain, minus body metabolism maintenance requirements) in beef cattle as averaging about 7:1, the truth is that individual cattle range anywhere from 4:1 to 10 or 11:1, and even worse. AACo’s early data capture experience using the GrowSafe system absolutely reflects the literature, with some ‘truly exciting’ individuals coming through the program.

DECEMBER 2013

Some of the ‘rogue’ animals tested so far have had conversions in the 3:1 range – a performance figure more commonly seen in

Using our formula, the adjustment can be gauged two ways: ■■

A 10pc improvement in NFCE reduces daily consumption from 15kg of finished ration to 13kg, without changing the carcase weight (356kg), producing a massive $70 impact on the net feeding cost per beast over a 105 day feeding program

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Approaching it from the ‘other direction’, if daily consumption is left at 15kg, the 10pc improvement in NFCE delivers a daily gain of lift of 0.3kg (2.0kg to 2.3kg/day). Again, that delivers a net benefit of around $70 a head over the feeding program.

monogastrics like pigs, rather than cattle. “They’re the ones we need to look at. But of course you can’t single-trait select – we have to look at that performance closely alongside meat quality and other traits. But with genetic diversity comes opportunity,” Mr Setter said. “We’ve already identified young bulls (both from the company’s composite program and Wagyu) with the magic combination of fertility, carcase traits, feed conversion performance and growth rate,” he said. “We want to retain those elite outlier animals through to their full growth weight, just to confirm the data, but they will then be fully exploited through ET and AI programs so we can spread that genetic foot print as quickly and as deeply as we can.” Quite a deal of work has been done earlier through the

Mr Setter said an NFCE financial impact would apply equally as much, if not more, in open range grazing situations as it did in the feedlot. “If, for example, NFCE could be improved by 10pc across the board, you could arguably run 10pc more cattle, and/or potentially extract higher fertility over improved breeder body condition at mating time.”

traits, the big potential conflict being compromised growth

Looking at the Wagyu production stream within AACo’s operations, the NFCE benefits could be seen equally as much, if not more, as in the company’s composite ‘conventional’ beef program.

rate. The good news, however, is that those ‘outliers’ exist

Continued on Page 12

Beef CRC on correlations between NFCE and other desirable

in the broader cattle population that can deliver both high growth and low (desirable) NFCE. The first highly promising bulls to pass through AACo’s test station will be put over breeders next year, meaning the first progeny entering the feedlot pens will not be seen for at least another two years. “It’s certainly a long-term project, but once the wheels start turning, it can be a very substantial lift in performance,” Mr Setter said. “It’s really a ten-year cycle for this project to have a serious impact, but we should start to see the early results in the next three years.” But the impact will only gain momentum as the genetic selection for NFCE starts to reflect in the company’s breeding herd, as older cows are replaced with heifers carrying some feed conversion selection pressure, as well as the paternal side of the calf’s genetics. “It’s a bit like a snowball at the top of the hill. It will start off small, but gain momentum as it moves along. If over time, we can knock a kilo per day per animal off our feed requirement, it would have a dramatic impact on our annual feed bill,” Mr Setter said. To illustrate this point, Beef Central applied the formula used in our regular feedlot trading budget to gauge the impact of a 1kg/day (10pc) improvement in NFCE, adjusting from our chosen, typical NFCE figure of 7.5:1 to 6.5:1 (as fed).

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NEWS CONVERTING FEED INTO BODYWEIGHT

The importance of feed conversion Continued from Page 11

“Our Wagyu might spend 300-400 days in the feedlot, but they typically spend 400 days in the paddock prior to that,” Mr Setter said. Ration make-up could obviously influence the impact of better NFCE in feedlot cattle. Feeding a 100-day animal on a high grain-based diet would obviously deliver a better payback on a 10pc improvement in NFCE than a Wagyu animal fed a higher roughage-based diet over the same period, or on an annualised basis. But the length of time feeding for the Wagyu could narrow that gap significantly, if the animal produced better performance. How AACo plans to manage the Wagyu side of the NFCE testing process is that, as a young Fullblood bull is about to enter the northern breeding herd, he will have been tested for NFCE, while real carcase data will be provided through a half-brother.

“If we have real carcase data from a half-sib, and not just scan data, we think it will improve the accuracies as well as the speed of gain,” Mr Setter said. The adoption of the GrowSafe measurement technology has been the catalyst for change for AACo in the area of NFCE assessment, because it solves many of the points of resistance to individual testing encountered previously. The main reasons why NFCE has not been selected for earlier has been that: ■■

The difficulty and cost involved in testing animals on a large scale for efficiency. The Canadian-developed GrowSafe technology addresses these challenges, providing a cost effective, low-labour means of individual animal NFCE assessment. AACo had already put some cattle through the similar facility at

the Tullimba research feedlot, but found it needed greater control, and access to scale, to make the process work better. One of the benefits of enterprise scale in a business the size of AACo is its ability to financially justify installing its own GrowSafe facility to test large numbers of cattle in coming years ■■

The fragmented nature of the seedstock industry

■■

There are not yet any price signals from feedlot operators to motivate breeders to select more heavily for the trait.

AACo is already working with some of its key buyers of feeder cattle (principally, domestic heifers) over the move into selection pressure on NFCE, and over time, it is assumed that cattle pricing will begin to reflect the anticipated improvements in feed conversion efficiency. n

Providing comprehensive nutritional, operational and training programmes for clients within the beef industry

CONSULTING NUTRITIONISTS

FOCUSING ON PERFORMANCE, CARCASS QUALITY & PROFITABILITY

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BS, MS, DVM, PhD

Philip Dew

BRurSc(Hons), MS

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BRurSc(Hons), MRurSc, PhD

Tel +61 7 4659 6900 Fax +61 7 4659 6904 Email info@iapnutrition.com.au

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

www.iapnutrition.com.au

DECEMBER 2013

BRANDED BEEF COMPETITION STANDARD VERY HIGH NEWS

GOLD FLOWS FOR WAGYU BEEF The standard in the Wagyu Branded Beef Competition was so high that over half of the 13 entries walked away with gold medals. The awards were announced at a gala black tie dinner during the National Wagyu Conference in Geelong. Judging was at Brisbaneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Regatta Hotel and the remains of the strip loins were re-packed and transferred to the Geelong Wagyu Conference. There they were portioned and cooked as steaks, cut into bite sized pieces and placed on identified tables for comparative tastings by close to 200 attendees. Continued on Page 14

In the elite Fullblood Wagyu section, sponsored by Bovine Dynamics, all four entries were awarded gold by a panel of industry experts. ENTRANT

AWARD Andrews Meat Industries (NSW)

GOLD

Australian Agricultural Co (QLD)

FULLB

GOLD

Bell Tree Pty Ltd (NSW)

FULLB

Fantastic, massive amount of marbling even when cooked, lovely flavour with a pleasant oily residue. Exceptional.

Top texture and very balanced flavour with pleasant oil residual and lasting beef flavour.

FULLB

GOLD

IMAGING CAMERA

Mayura Station (SA)

JUDGE'S COMMENTS

Fantastic, very tender, melts on the tongue with a juicy burst on the teeth.

GOLD

Ron Fitzgerald, Councillor responsible for the Branded Beef Competition, with a tray of Robbins Island grass fed Fullblood Wagyu ready for cooking and tasting at the 2013 Wagyu National Conference.

FULLB

Extraordinary meat. Tender, extremely juicy, rich textures with plenty of flavour, and pleasant lasting taste on the palate. The works!! Exceptional quality.

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

www.wagyu.org.au

NEWS BRANDED BEEF COMPETITION STANDARD VERY HIGH

Gold flows for Wagyu beef Continued from Page 13

In the Crossbred Wagyu section, sponsored by Brisbane’s Cha Cha Char Bar & Grill, three of the seven entries were awarded gold while the remainder were silver. AWARD Australian Agricultural Co (QLD)

JUDGE'S COMMENTS Great smell, very juicy with a good mouth feel. Mature, livery, buttery, toasty flavour with a lasting clean oil texture on the palate and a lasting grainy flavour. Fantastic, great quality.

GOLD

Rangers Valley (NSW)

CRO

B R E D WA

Juicy with a great mouth feel and a light, clean, sweet flavour.

GOLD

CRO

Stockyard (QLD)

B R E D WA

Soft to the bite with a great buttery texture and a very pleasant lasting toasty, caramel and buttery flavour, leaving the mouth coated with a beef taste and a very pleasant oily residual.

B R E D WA

Glorious and buttery. Great smell, strong and pleasant caramelisation and nutty lasting flavour and moisture with a mouth coating consistency.

CRO

Hamblin Pty Ltd (QLD)

S ILV E R

B R E D WA

Juicy to start with, then a light caramel flavour rushes out not long after, leaving a great beef taste on the palate, with a cereal lasting flavour.

CRO

S ILV E R

B R E D WA

Rich, light caramel and toasty flavour with a rich cooking consistency in the fats. Very juicy and tender with good moisture retention. Very saleable.

Warmoll Foods (NSW)

S ILV E R

CRO

B R E D WA

Beautiful and juicy with a hint of butter and tempered creamy flavours. A caramel lasting flavour sits on the palate with a buttery texture, oily yet not leaving a residual on the roof of the mouth.

CRO

S ILV E R

Irongate Wagyu (WA)

CRO

GOLD

Andrews Meat Industries (NSW)

IMAGING CAMERA

ENTRANT

B R E D WA

In the Pasture fed section, sponsored by Hughes Pastoral Company, both entries received bronze. AWARD

PA S T U

Pleasant clean, livery, lightly creamy, slightly nutty texture. Good beef flavour, slightly butter flavoured at the start. Very saleable. ED

Good slight livery flavour which lasted well, very juicy and dropped its moisture on the palate.

N BRO ZE

WA G

Stan Piggins (NSW)

N BRO ZE

WA G

Robbin’s Island Wagyu (TAS)

JUDGE'S COMMENTS

ENTRANT

PA S T U

Continued on Page 16

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

DECEMBER 2013

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16/10/13 10:14 AM

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

www.wagyu.org.au

NEWS BRANDED BEEF COMPETITION STANDARD VERY HIGH

Gold flows for Wagyu beef Continued from Page 14

JUDGING CRITERIA

DIGITAL CAMERA IMAGE ANALYSIS

All entries were assessed by each of a panel of eight judges based on: ■■ Tenderness 30 points ■■ Juiciness 10 points ■■ Flavour 30 points ■■ Overall Liking 30 points ■■ Visual (Raw) 30 points The scores for each of these attributes were added together for each judge to attain a total score for each exhibit. The highest and lowest total was then eliminated to statistically eliminate the outliers and attain a more even score. This then left 6 scores for each exhibit giving a maximum of 780 points possible for each entry.

The exhibited branded beef strip loin cutsections were imaged using the Japanese digital camera. Camera carcase analysis results were displayed with each exhibit during the awards and the averages across all exhibits were:

In recognition of the Pasture fed class exhibits containing marketing attributes which were not sufficiently included in the judging protocol; a further 10% was added to the Pasture fed exhibits’ final scores. However, the organisers consider that further work needs to be done to appropriately judge the Pasture fed exhibits. Gold, Silver and Bronze awards were awarded to exhibits that achieved the cut-off levels within the maximum 780 score of GOLD ≥80%; SILVER ≥75%; BRONZE ≥ 70% attributed to each award. This was identical to last year.

Marbling percentage 38.34% Fineness of marbling Index 3.40 Rib Eye Area 79.88 cm2

G O LD

% OF FINAL TOTAL

FINAL TOTAL LEVEL

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS Each exhibit is to comprise 1 x whole Striploin of H.A.M. 2140 or 2141 or 2142 or 2143 together with a copy of the carton end panel from which the entered product originated. Must be no longer than 50

days aged at time of judging.

COOKING METHOD (previous day preparation) a. 21mm steaks will be cut from the caudal end (rump end) until there is no evidence of the m. gluteus medius remaining. Each steak will be measured and cut 21mm thick b. The next steak will be used for the visual assessment. It will be identified with the coded insert and vacuum packed. c. The next two steaks will be used for cooking and taste assessment. They will be identified with the coded insert and vacuum packed.

100 %

780

FULLBLOOD CLASS

CROSSBRED CLASS

720 707 686 670

GYU

80%

GYU

75%

GYU

671 654

585 572 570

70 %

546

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

a. All cooking exhibits will be removed from the refrigerator a minimum 1 hour before cooking commences. b. The cooking of exhibits will be done as per the order sheet which will be prepared and in a random order. i. Two steaks representing the exhibit will be placed in the sous-vide bath which will be maintained at 620c for exactly 15 minutes. ii. The steaks will be removed from their bag and placed on the grill for 1 minute either side. To obtain an even ‘char’ each side will be grill in a criss/ cross fashion for 30 seconds each (a total of 1 minute a side) before being turned over on the other side where the same process will occur. iii. The steaks will be removed from the grill and placed on the warming tray for 5 minutes. iv. The steaks will then be prepared by; v. Removing the m. multifidi dorsi. vi. Removing the medial, lateral, dorsal and ventral edges. viii. Cutting the steaks (lengthwise dorsal to ventral) into two strips and then cutting these strips into 4 bite size pieces. vx. Place 2 pieces on each plate and distribute to the judges. n We would like to thank our valued sponsors of the 2013 Wagyu Brand Beef Competition for your help in making this event such a success.

619 617 599 596

N B RO Z E

PASTURE FED CLASS +10%

624

S ILV E R

(Judging day)

c. Each exhibit will follow this protocol:

SCORING SUMMARY - a summary of the final scores is provided below. MEDAL

d. The next two steaks will used as backups. They will be identified with the coded insert and vacuum packed.

DECEMBER 2013

LEFT Gold medal winners in the Fullblood Wagyu section from left: Andrews Meats (Shiro Kin), Bell Tree Pty Ltd (Blue Mountain), AACo (Master Kobe) and Mayura Station. BELOW Gold medal winners in the Crossbred Wagyu section from Rangers Valley, AACo (Kobe Cuisine) and Stockyard.

JUDGING PANEL >

John Kilroy Restauranteur John is the owner of Brisbane’s leading beef restaurant Cha Cha Char Wine Bar & Grill and is widely acknowledged as one of the major contributors to the exciting reformation which has swept through the red meat industry.

John Alexander Executive Chef John is from Rockhampton, Qld, where his family still has a cattle property. He has worked as a chef throughout Queensland and is currently Executive Chef at Eaton’s Hill Hotel and Function Centre, the largest hotel in the Southern Hemisphere and expanding.

Peter Hughes Cattle Producer Hughes Pastoral runs 35,000 crossbred Wagyu on Queensland, New South Wales and NT properties. Owns Wright Wagyu stud in Armidale, NSW, producing 200 as Wagyu fullblood and purebred bulls annuallly for northern properties.

Alison Alexander Food Consultant, Queensland Food Fellow Alison is a passionate promoter of Queensland regional produce and is a dedicated food broadcaster, writer and presenter.

Zoran Stojcevski Events Manager, Regatta Hotel Zoran is the Events Manager at the Regatta Hotel in Brisbane (where the judging took place) and was extremely helpful. “Whatever you need just let us know” was the attitude of the Ragtta Hotel staff.

Chris Jackson Executive Chef Chris has been a Chef for 45 years and has worked mainly in Brisbane with time in north Queensland and is currently Executive Chef at the Brisbane Riverview Hotel. Chris was a judge at last year’s competition as well.

Matt George Bovine Dynamics Formed in 2010 by Matthew George and a small specialised team, Bovine Dynamics is an intensive ruminant veterinary and nutritional consulting group. The company is responsible for feedlot nutrition and animal performance to feedlots with a 440,000 head one-time capacity.

Shannon Kellam International Chef Over the past 20 years Shannon has won over 80 medals in salon culinaires (cooking competitions). In 2005 he was selected in the Australian Culinary Team and is now vice captain. In 2008 the Australian team won the Gold Medal in the Restaurant of Nations Culinary Olympics, the world’s largest culinary event with thousands of chefs from over 60 nations competing.

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

www.wagyu.org.au

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

DECEMBER 2013

IMPROVING ANIMAL GENETICS NEWS

HOW SCIENCE BLENDS WITH ART Tom Gubbins, Joint CEO, Te Mania Angus was a speaker at the 2013 Wagyu National Conference.

Tom Gubbins was asked the question ‘Breedplan, does it work?’ at the Wagyu National Conference in Geelong.

FIGURE 1

October 2012 Angus Australia BREEDPLAN graph of herd genetic trends for weight traits

EBV

100 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5

Birth Weight 200 Day Growth 200 Day Milk 400 Day Weight 600 Day Weight Mature Weight

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

CALVING YEAR

FIGURE 2

October 2012 Angus Australia BREEDPLAN graph of herd genetic trends for carcase traits

5.5

Eye Muscle Area Rib Fat Rump Fat Intramuscular Fat Retail Beef Yield

“Profitability is a trait” claimed Gubbins as he explained how Te Mania uses Breedplan along with many other tools that bring buyers from all states and overseas to buy the 500 to 600 bulls Te Mania sells each year.

4.5

“We do lots of recording in many traits,” he said giving Te Mania a huge stockpile of data to track progress within the herd and in comparison with the Angus breed.

FIGURE 2 tracks Te Mania’s rate of genetic progress for carcase traits including IMF with the herd’s average IMF EBV rising form 0.01 in 1993 to 2.0 in 2011.

4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 .5 0 1993 1994 1995

“Te Mania is committed to producing cattle bred with structure for the paddock, the feedlot and saleyard,” said Gubbins but it is Breedplan that provides the benchmarks and comparisons and plots the genetic improvement or otherwise in the herd.

FIGURE 1 reveals Te Mania’s genetic progress over almost 20 years for weight traits.

EBV

The answer was an unequivocal YES as he urged seedstock producers to use the many tools at their disposal to seek out genetic improvement and profitability.

Te Mania’s female herd contains 1,200 stud females and 400 recipients. All females run in large mobs acting as giant filters ensuring animals unable to exist under commercial environments are culled.

1993 1994 1995

One of Australia’s most successful seedstock producers Tom Gubbins of Te Mania Angus, Mortlake, Vic, was asked to address the question ‘Breedplan, does it work?’ at the Wagyu National Conference in Geelong.

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

CALVING YEAR

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

In addition to monitoring EBVs, Te Mania uses the Breedplan extensions of Breed Object and Total Genetic Resource Management (TGRM) to plan joinings. Coancestry and possible inbreeding is also monitored carefully through the huge database available. n

www.wagyu.org.au

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

DECEMBER 2013

GENETIC PROGRESS MARKETPLACE

KEEP UP WITH GENETIC PROGRESS OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES

Beef Central’s JON CONDON reports

Avenues for genetic improvement were discussed at the Wagyu Conference at Geelong with the newly appointed AGBU director ROB BANKS setting the scene for lively discussion. Rob Banks who told the 2013 Wagyu National Conference delegates that the Wagyu breed has big opportunities but could not afford to get complacent about genetic progress. The fact that a number of cavernous former wool stores around Geelong have now been converted into wool museums says a lot about the need for the livestock industry to maintain and build momentum in genetic improvement. The observation was made by respected geneticist Dr Rob Banks while addressing Wagyu breeders attending their annual conference in

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

Victoria’s bayside city of Geelong on Saturday. Dr Banks, himself a prominent sheep geneticist earlier in his career, is now director of the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit based at UNE, Armidale. While his comments were directed at the Wagyu segment of the beef industry, his message has equal resonance among other breed types where uptake of objective genetic selection technologies has been slow. While there was no question that the Wagyu breed had a big opportunity ahead of it, it could not afford to get complacent about genetic progress. ‘Everybody in the beef world knows about the opportunities available through the combination of genomics and objective measurement – it’s just that others can’t necessarily put them together, as easily as Australian Wagyu can,” Dr Banks said. Continued on Page 23

www.wagyu.org.au

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

DECEMBER 2013

GENETIC PROGRESS MARKETPLACE

Keep up with genetic progress or suffer the consequences Continued from Page 21

One of the advantages held by the Australian Wagyu industry was that it was already very close to the point of routinely getting lots of data from the feedlot and abattoir level. “For most other beef breeds in this country, that’s really hard work at the moment. Most of the data is collected in the stud sector, which is much less related to feedlot or butcher shop performance.” “You people are already collecting this information, quite routinely. It allows you to put the data and genetics together to put the link back up to allow you to select the best animals, so that the genes filtering down are better and better over time.” “That is the Wagyu breed’s unique opportunity: this combination of data that is readily and simply available through the feedlot and abattoir, and using genomics to make sense of that data. It’s an extraordinary opportunity, and if the breed can get the business model right for that, it will be very exciting times ahead.” Other breeds, other countries and other sectors were also making rapid progress, however. “In Japan, the Wagyu breed is making progress in growth and carcase traits, recording some 30,000 animals each year. Whatever marbling level the Japanese industry is at now, they will be a full marbling score higher, on average, in a few years’ time,” Dr Banks said.

industry – decade after decade – said their product was so good nobody could ever touch it – and all they had to do was market it.” “The wool industry did nothing about genetic improvement until five or six years ago, and that was why those storage buildings are now museums,” he said. Dr Banks said the current Wagyu genetics project was about asking whether data collected from the feedlot, carcase and abattoir, could be put together with DNA information to develop genomic tools that would help breeders pick the better animals, and do it at a much, much younger age. Data was being collected in the feedlot and from the abattoir, together with blood samples to secure the genomic pedigree of animals, and seeing what can be made of the data to understand the genetics for different traits which are important in the Wagyu breed to produce EBVs (Estimated Breeding Values) for sires, and develop a genomic test for use in bull breeding and feedlot management. “Although it is looking promising, there’s no absolute guarantee the project will work,” he warned. “The issue with feedlot data is that from a geneticists viewpoint it can be quite messy – there’s lots of things going on that can impact on the data analysis. One of the purposes of the project is to better understand the extent of that in the sort of data that is typically being collected.” Continued on Page 24

“In this country, there’s no question that Wagyu cattle for eating quality traits are significantly superior to any other breed. It’s a great situation to be in, but other breeds are starting to collect the sort of feedlot data we’re talking about, to change that aspect of their product.” Angus, the nearest competitor in marbling and eating quality, was seeing a strong positive trend in marbling, based on data collection. “Whatever the gap between Wagyu and Angus is now, if Wagyu breeders do nothing, the Angus will have caught you within ten or 15 years, or perhaps less.” Poultry and pigs were already putting heavy selection pressure on efficiency, to keep the cost of production as low as possible, while also selecting for eating quality traits, using latest genomic technologies, to make their product more desirable to the consumer. “Don’t think that the good position that the Wagyu breed occupies today is going to automatically stay that way forever,” Dr Banks said. Wagyu could continue to maintain a considerable advantage over other breeds, however – but it was a matter of getting large amounts of good data together and using it to define the very best animals to make progress on every single trait that impact profit along the supply chain. “There’s a warning in industries like wool that for a long time thought their product was so good they did not have to do any work on cost of production or quality,” Dr Banks said. “The reason those woolstores are now wool museums is that the

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

www.wagyu.org.au

MARKETPLACE GENETIC PROGRESS

The project was about bringing objectively measured data and DNA testing together in order to deliver an ability to test very young Wagyu animals for genetic merit. “You’re going to soon be in a position to screen very young animals and be able to identify the ones that are best for whatever traits you’re interested in, from those recorded,” Dr Banks said. There were two parts to the project: the DNA technology, and the objectively recorded data, and it had become increasingly apparent in the last ten years that DNA technology without data was “complete rubbish.” Another key element of the project is using recently developed Japanese camera carcase assessment technology to look at aspects of the Wagyu carcase that hitherto have not been able to be gleaned using conventional assessment methods. The focus in this area is how much more information the camera system is providing above technologies like scanning, and whether it is of any real value. The

“This project is not an easy walk in the park: it’s research because there is uncertainty about those things,” Dr Banks said. He used an example comparing two Wagyu sires – one with progeny producing an average marbling score of 8.5, and the other at 6.5. Typically there would be a big range on the marbling performance of progeny for both, from 6 to9+ for the first, and 4-8 for the second.

“The whole game is not about saying, ‘I produced some progeny with marbling scores of 9 from this bull’ – it’s about finding bulls and their females that have superior genetics which can move the Wagyu population forward,” Dr Banks said.

“From that, we can estimate the value of the sire’s genes, and it comes down to a difference, in this example of just under one marbling score - +0.8 for the better bull and -0.8 for the less one. That can be distilled down to the value of the sire’s genetics. Because the sire is only passing on half the genetic makeup of the progeny, what is seen is the superior bull passes on just under half a marbling score better than average, and the second, just under half a marbling score worse than average.”

Swans Veterinary Services, IDEXX Laboratories, and the Australian Wagyu Association have joined forces to assist AWA members to manage Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus.

To get started managing BVDV systematically in your herd, contact Swans today. They will work directly with you and your veterinarian to construct the most cost effective strategy to manage BVDV within your operation.

Return to: Lot 83 Sheldon Road, Esperance WA 6450 Phone: 08 9071 5777 Fax: 08 9071 5057 Email: lab@swansvet.com

Test Requested:

Antigen (PI)

Tego

Antibody Certificate required for show/sale?

Veterinary Clinic: Veterinarian:

Client: Client Address:

Yes

Address: Client Phone Number: Client Fax Number:

Vet Phone Number: Vet Fax Number:

Client Email: Has your Vet been contacted?

Vet Email: Send Results To:

Clinic Email Clinic Fax

Send Invoice To:

Client Email Client Fax

Yes

Clinic Email Clinic Fax

No Client Email Client Fax

Additional Information:

Sample # Animal ID 1 2 3

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Lab use only:

Sample #

Comments

Animal ID

Comments

Sample #

Animal ID

Comments

Sample #

100

Received: ___________________ Milk ID: ___________________

WAGYU the marbling breed

WAGYU the marbling breed AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

Blood

Ear Notches

Collection Date: _________________

Don’t live with BVDV, systematically control it!

Camera-measured traits included marbling score, marbling coarseness, meat colour, marbling percentage, number and fineness of marbling particles and eye muscle area. Continued on Page 26

BVDV Testing

When submitting samples to Swans Veterinary Services, use this form available from the AWA offices or Swans Veterinary Services to receive a 50 cent discount off every BVDV sample submitted to their laboratory. Swans and IDEXX will remit a further premium to the association to promote member services and to develop awareness of this most significant and treatable of diseases.

So far, the project had recorded carcase weights and AusMeat marbling scores on 1850 progeny of 160 Wagyu sires. Average carcase weight was 425kg, and marbling score 7.4 (range from 3-10). About 200 of those had been DNA-tested for genotype.

Submission Sheet Number of Samples:

Swans Veterinary Services specialize in providing cost effective advice to veterinarians and producers across Australia to manage this most costly of diseases. Estimated to cost Australian beef producers between $16 and $95 per animal on farms harbouring Persistently Infected (PI) animals, the cost of BVDV is greatest amongst high value production herds.

The example reinforced the message that there is a huge spread in what is seen in marbling performance within the Wagyu breed. Both sires had some progeny that marbled at quite high levels, but it was their average performance that was trying to be distinguished, to determine what they were passing on to their progeny.

heritability of the camera-measured traits is also under scrutiny.

DECEMBER 2013

Animal ID

Comments

Invoice: ______________ Reported: ________________ Comments: ________________________________________________________

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

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MARKETPLACE GENETIC PROGRESS

Keep up with genetic progress or suffer the consequences

sense of the data, that might be useful,” Dr Banks said.

Continued from Page 24

That data is being subjected to genetic analysis. “From the genetic analysis viewpoint, the first issue is to try to find out whether there are genetic differences detectable in the data – consistent patterns of sires having better or worse progeny than average,” he said. “If we can find detectable patterns like that, we will look at the heritability. From initial results, the data is telling us that carcase weight in Wagyu is about 33pc heritable, which is consistent with other breeds and other estimates for Wagyu. It gives us some confidence that despite some problems with the data, we are picking-up genetic differences.” For AusMeat marbling score, heritability is around 40pc, while the range of cameraassessed traits range from 25pc to 75pc. “It’s telling us that we are making some

“The heritabilities tell us immediately that those traits can be improved by selection. For example if we want to improve carcase weight at a constant age, we can do it – there are genetic differences, we can pick them, and pass that superiority on. The same for marbling score – there is genetic material there to work with.” Some patterns were also being picked up in the genetic relationships between traits – growth rate and marbling for example. Encouragingly, overall positive genetic relationships were being seen between EBVs for AusMeat marbling score, and Japanese camera-assessed marbling score (see graph right). “We’re still cautious, at this early stage, about those genetic relationship estimates, but it looks reasonably promising, and it’s a pretty strong relationship,” Dr Banks said. “It looks like the relationship holds-up for (ultrasonic) scan IMF (Intramuscular Fat) as well – it’s an interesting and potentially very valuable result.” A sheet of initial ‘research’ Estimated

Breeding Values was distributed among the conference attendees (see Wagyu Sire Research EBVs list), for a range of traits and sires, including carcase weight, AusMeat and camera marbling score, rib eye area, and a marbling fineness index. Dr Banks picked out a couple of examples from the list to illustrate the results. Concentrating on the marbling score EBV, he highlighted a sire and his son - both on the test- that were superior for marbling, but the son was also shown to be significantly better for carcase weight EBV – as much as 10kg genetically better, on average. “That’s a nice example of what we’re trying to find: we’re analysing all these animals, but we’re looking for places where sons are better than their sires for one desirable trait, while being at least similar for others.” “The real core to the project is to try to find sons that are better than their fathers, and heifers that are better than their mothers for these desirable traits,” Dr Banks said. “It’s the key to making genetic progress, and reinforces the importance of the data being the key to finding superior animals.”

join us to create

CRO

GOLD

B R E D WA

AWARD WINNING WAGYU

Our vision is simple; to meet the needs of the present without compromising the future. Rangers Valley Cattle Station welcomes suppliers of Wagyu to create some of the finest cool climate long-fed Wagyu available. Exporting to more than 18 countries including the EU.

contact Don Mackay Managing Director p +61 2 6734 4000 m +61 408 482 737 e mackayd@rvalley.com.au Richard Eldershaw Livestock Manager m +61 428 263 955 e eldershawr@rvalley.com.au

w rangersvalley.com.au

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

DECEMBER 2013

EBVs for AusMeat marbling score

CCMP, camera trait, marbling percentage

- for both less and more heritable traits. Dr Banks suggested the ‘sweet spot’ for cattle populations in Australia could be for genomic tests that had an accuracy range of 50-60pc, requiring a reference population of 2000-5000 head, depending on the heritability of the trait. While Wagyu at the moment was still way below that, it was still very early days, Dr Banks said.

40 30

“Where the breed needs to be – basically as soon as possible – is to get to 40005000 good records on animals, that are also recorded for DNA genotype,” he said.

CMAU, AusMeat marbling

0AWA Collaborative Research Project – Wagyu Sire Research Estimated Breeding Value (EBVs) score n=1146

These results are based on data being collected in a project co‐funded by MLA and the AWA. The statistical analysis has been conducted by the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU), a joint venture of UNE and NSW DPI.

Disclaimer: The research EBVs listed below are based on preliminary analysis of a small volume of data, and may change significantly as more information is collected and analysed. These results should not be used in marketing, and no responsibility is accepted for any outcomes arising from their use.

Wagyu Sire Research EBVs

Progeny Research EBVs Name All Carc Wt Camera Image CWT CMAU CCMP CCRA CCFI ITOSHIGENAMI (IMP USA) 2234 75 48 ‐9 +2.0 +10.1 +6.8 +0.2 MAYURA ITOSHIGENAMI JNR (AI) 19 16 14 +1 +1.3 +7.5 +9.1 +0.2 KITATERUYASUDOI J2810 HONGEN (IMP JAP) 2647 37 31 ‐24 +0.9 +5.7 +2.2 +0.1 KINTO SHIKI Y5012 (AI) 119 34 33 ‐11 +0.7 +5.2 ‐0.3 +0.2 MICHIFUKU (IMP USA) 1941 64 53 +2 +1.2 +4.5 +7.4 +0.5 MAYURA ZULU (AI) 24 15 15 +4 +0.7 +4.4 +5.5 +0.0 SANJIROU 126 24 22 ‐5 +0.6 +3.9 +6.3 0.1 GINJO MARBLEMAX HIRANAMI B901 89 19 19 +14 +0.7 +3.5 +1.0 n/a TF ITOHANA 2 (IMP USA) 940 13 11 +41 +0.8 +2.6 ‐0.7 +0.3 TWA SHIKIKAN (IMP USA) 600 20 16 ‐33 +0.2 +2.1 ‐0.6 +0.2 TAMARIND T4 ITOSHIGEFUJI 06/4 (AI) (ET) 72 15 10 +22 ‐0.2 +1.6 +1.5 +0.0 GOSHU FUKUNAGA (AI) (ET) 37 13 13 +4 +0.0 +1.5 +2.9 +0.2 GOSHU FUKUZAKI (AI) (ET) 53 12 12 +7 +0.5 +1.5 +2.0 +0.7 YOKOZUNA SHIKIKAN 2 (ET) 43 21 19 +4 ‐0.3 +1.3 +0.3 +0.2 FUKUTSURU J068 (IMP JAP) 465 17 11 +4 +0.3 +1.1 +2.2 +0.6 LAKE WAGYU B53 (AI) (ET) 17 12 12 ‐9 +0.0 +0.7 +1.9 +0.1 HEART BRAND RED EMPEROR (IMP USA) 185 22 17 +25 ‐0.3 +0.4 +1.1 +0.2 HIRASHIGETAYASU J2351 HONGEN (IMP JAP) 2108 51 40 +1 0.5 +0.4 +3.6 ‐0.3 GOSHU FUKUTOMI (AI) (ET) 24 14 13 ‐8 ‐0.2 +0.1 +3.2 +0.6 KINTO MICHIFUKU V2085 (AI) (ET) 40 28 15 ‐8 +0.0 +0.0 +1.9 +0.5 ITOSHIGEFUJI (IMP USA) 1889 67 39 30 ‐0.2 ‐0.6 ‐0.9 ‐0.1 SHIGEFUKU J1822 (IMP JAP) 210 15 15 ‐37 ‐0.1 ‐0.6 ‐4.1 ‐0.4 ITOMORITAKA J2703 HONGEN (IMP JAP) 962 25 21 +0 +0.0 ‐1.3 +0.0 ‐0.3 WESTHOLME HIRASHIGETAMANA (AI) 97 16 16 ‐29 ‐0.5 ‐2.9 +0.2 ‐0.3 Progeny: All = progeny recorded with the AWA, Carc Wt = Progeny with a carcase weight included in the research analysis, Camera Image = Progeny with camera image analysis include in the analysis such as CCMP, CCRA and CCFI (see below). However note that not all progeny have all camera traits recorded.

within a few months’ time. But these CWT – Genetic differences in AUS‐MEAT carcase weight – Hot Standard Carcase weight (kgs) opportunities are all within the Wagyu CWT Genetic differences in AUS-MEAT CMAU – Genetic differences in AUS‐MEAT Marble Score (range 1 – 9 score) in a standard 420 kg Wagyu carcase. CCMP – Camera Image – Genetic differences in Carcase Marbling Percent in a standard 420 kg Wagyu carcase. (Percentage of Rib Eye Area which is marbling fat) industry’s grasp.” carcase weight – Hot Standard Carcase CCRA – Camera Image – Genetic differences in Carcase Rib Eye Area (square cm) in a standard 420 kg Wagyu carcase CCFI – Camera Image – Genetic differences in Carcase Fineness of Marbling Index in a standard 420 kg Wagyu carcase (degree of fineness of marbling fat.) weight (kgs) “The first thing this project tells us straight CMAU Genetic differences in AUS-MEAT away is that there is no question that genomic tests for this breed, for the traits of Marble Score (range 1 – 9 score) in a highest interest, are possible. The technology standard 420 kg Wagyu carcase. CCMP camera image – Genetic differences is working well – it’s just a matter of getting enough of the right data to drive it.” in Carcase Marbling Percent in a standard 420 kg Wagyu carcase. (Percentage of Rib “It’s also important to learn from this Eye Area which is marbling fat) project about how to make sure that the data CCRA camera image – Genetic differences is really robust. Data harvesting (collecting what-ever carcase data at the end of the in Carcase Rib Eye Area (square cm) in a supply chain at the abattoirs is available) standard 420 kg Wagyu carcase causes all sorts of problems for analysis, and CCFI camera image – Genetic differences if it can be minimised or avoided, it makes in Carcase Fineness of Marbling Index the genomic test much more reliable. in a standard 420 kg Wagyu carcase

RESEARCH EBVS Research Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs):

(degree of fineness of marbling fat)

SO WHERE MIGHT THE EARLY PROJECT FINDINGS LEAD? “Sometimes when geneticists talk about where things might lead to, they are talking in timeframes of 10 or 20 years or more,” Dr Banks said. “In this case, we’re talking

A key to success within the Wagyu industry would be uptake. Geneticists had put a lot of effort into trying to determine how much data was necessary to make genomic technology testing reasonably accurate. Logically, as the number of animals in the reference population grows, it improves the accuracy of a genomic test

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“That will put the breed in the position to be able to use the genomic tests to pick animals, basically at any age they like, at around 60pc accuracy. Once the breed reaches that level, it needs to keep topping-up with a thousand or more new records each year, which I suspect is eminently do-able.” Once the genomic test process was working well – which would not be that far off – breeders would be in a position to screen very young animals using genomics and performance data and make decisions about them for breeding or production purposes, as young as they wanted. “It might sound like a geneticists dream to have all these good things in one package, but it will be possible to screen young bulls that are really good for early growth, growth efficiency, and then having all the carcase traits as well,” Dr Banks said. “Equally cattle intended for slaughter will be able to be screened going into the feedlot, allowing their performance to be predicted with some confidence. That will save an enormous amount of money for the feedlot sector, in not feeding cattle beyond a certain point that do not have the genetic ability to produce high marbling.” He said it became extremely clear with the project work that the absolute most precious resource available to breeders was the data. “For that reason, the cost of collecting the data needs to be recognised, and I think that’s is going to change the way that all beef breeds work, because it is the phenotypic data that is the raw material for your future profits.” “If you haven’t got it, you’re stuffed,” he said. n

The POWERPOINT presentations from the 2013 Wagyu Conference are available on www.wagyu.org.au

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

DECEMBER 2013

past decade. Growth Traits

INCREASING GENETIC GAIN ASSOCIATION

The percentage of calves recorded for 200 day weight has increased from 40% in 2003 drop c 60% in the 2012 drop calves (Fig 1). Similarly the recording of 400 day weight has increased f 22% in 2003 drop calves to 48% in 2012 drop calves. The recording of 600 day weight has rem relatively static over the same period at around 10-‐15%. Mature cow eight has also remained at 5-‐10%.

WAGYU - ACHIEVING AN INCREASED RATE OF GENETIC GAIN The need for continual

Recording Trends -‐ 200 Day Weight FIGURE 1

genetic improvement in

Performance recording trends for 200 day weight by calving year

the Wagyu breed was one of the major topics discussed at the AWA Conference in Geelong. This financial year BREEDPLAN membership became included in the annual membership subscription for all full members of the AWA. Performance data entry has also been included in animal registration fees, giving members an unprecedented opportunity to begin

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

submitting performance information and

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

receiving BREEDPLAN EBVs on their

Figure 1. Performance recording trends for 200 day weight by calving year registered Wagyu animals. The release of the Fullblood Feedlot Index in June

Carcass Traits 2012 also means that breeders now have a tool for

ranking and selecting animals objectively on their overall

The feedlot percentage of system. animals recorded for the ultrasound scan traits (Eye Muscle Area, Rib Fat, genetic value for a fullblood production

nd intramuscular With this in mind nowFat is anaopportune time to reviewfat) has have gradually been increasing with only 6% scanned from the what impact these changes have had on y current drop calving ear to 30% scanned from the 2012 calving year (Fig 2). performance recording trends and the genetic progress for the breed. The following graphs show the trends in trait recording levels as a percentage of animals pedigree recorded with the Australian Wagyu Association by calving year. The number of pedigree recorded calves varies between years but has been steadily increasing from 3000 to 5000 animals over the past decade.

GROWTH TRAITS The percentage of calves recorded for 200 day weight has increased from 40% in 2003 drop calves to 60% in the 2012 drop calves (Fig 1). Similarly the recording of 400 day weight has increased from 22% in 2003 drop calves to 48% in 2012 drop calves. The recording of 600 day weight has remained relatively static over the same period at around 10-15%. Mature cow eight has also remained static at 5-10%.

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ASSOCIATION INCREASING GENETIC GAIN

Recording Trends -‐ Scanning

FIGURE 2

Performance recording trends for carcase traits by calving years.

CARCASE TRAITS The percentage of animals recorded for the ultrasound scan traits (Eye Muscle Area, Rib Fat, Rump Fat and intramuscular fat) has have gradually been increasing with only 6% scanned from the 2003 drop calving year to 30% scanned from the 2012 calving year (Fig 2).

CALVING TRAITS The percentage of calves recorded for birth weight has increased from 22% in 2003 drop calves to 29% in 2012 drop calves (Fig 3).

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

THE RATE OF GENETIC PROGRESS

growth and carcase, and breeders now have increase in the rate of genetic progress being traits by calving year Between the 2003 Figure and 20122. Performance recording trends for carcase achieved by Australian Wagyu? the opportunity to rank their animals on their calving years there has been a overall genetic merit using the Fullblood It is common practice for industry to measure general increase in theCalving level of Traits trait recording across calving, Feedlot Index. But has this resulted in an the rate of genetic progress being achieved

The percentage of calves recorded for birth weight has increased from 22% in 2003 drop ca 29% in 2012 drop calves (Fig 3).

Recording Trends -‐ Birth Weight Taste the Experience ®

100% 90% Since 1991

80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Figure 3. Performance recording trends for birth weight by calving year www.beefcorp.com.au The rate of genetic progress Ph 03 5368 2345

Between the 2003 and 2012 calving years there has been a general increase in the level of recording across calving, growth and carcase, and breeders now have the opportunity to ra WAGYU UPDATE merit DECEMBER animals on AUSTRALIAN their overall genetic using t2013 he Fullblood Feedlot index. But has this result increase in the rate of genetic progress being achieved by Australian Wagyu?

Calving Traits

The percentage of calves recorded for birth weight has increased from 22% in 2003 drop calves to 29% in 2012 drop calves (Fig 3). FIGURE 3 Recording TPerformance rends recording -‐ Birth Wbirtheight trends for weight by calving year

by a breed by way of the change in average Selection Index per calf drop over a defined period. This is a more balanced approach than selecting individual traits as it reflects change in overall profitability as a result of genetic change across a range of traits deemed as economically important for the defined production system and market end point. The Fullblood Feedlot Index is the Wagyu

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40%

selection index which estimates the genetic

30%

differences between animals in net profitability

20%

per cow joined for a commercial self-replacing

10%

Wagyu herd in a temperate environment targeting fullblood steer production.

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

The trends for the Fullblood Feedlot Index

shows the average rate of genetic progress has

Figure 3. Performance recording trends for birth weight by calving year

increased from $0.50 per cow mated per year

If you are currently not a member of BREEDPLAN or would like to enquire about improving your performance recording please contact

(2006 to 2010) to $1.50 per cow mated The rate per of year genetic progress (2008 to 2012) (Fig 4).

Wagyu BREEDPLAN email: wagyu@breedplan.une.edu.au

Between This indicates that the increase in trait the 2003 and 2012 calving years there has been a general increase in the level of trait

FURTHER performance recording trends, recording levels and associatedrecording selection across calving, growth aINFORMATION nd carcase, aon nd Waygu breeders now have the opportunity to rank the

Wagyu selection Indexes or genetic progress is available from: benefits (e.g. increased selection accuracy, animals on their overall genetic merit using the Fullblood Feedlot index. But has this resulted in a increased selection differential) has resulted in

Christian Duff

increase in the rate of gWagyu enetic SBTS progress being Officer achieved by Australian Wagyu? Technical

an increase in the rate of genetic progress being achieved by the Australian Wagyu breed and an

email: christian@sbts.une.edu.au

phone: 02 6773 2472

It is common practice for industry to measure the rate of genetic progress being achieved by a br increase in the genetic value of Wagyu animals by way of the change in average SFurther election Index pavailable er calf datrop over a defined period. This is a mor information breedplan.une.edu.au in a fullblood feedlot production system. n

FIGURE 4

Average genetic merit for the Wagyu Fullblood Feeder Selection Index ($) by calving year and the 5 year rolling average rate of change

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

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$11,280 G N I Y L F R O F DOCTOR

2013 NATIONAL WAGYU CONFERENCE $4,200

450 days on feed for 2 Wagyu Donor

Maydan Feedlot (Geoff Willett)

Buyer

Australian Agricultural Company (AACo)

Master Kobe 9+ MS 1.5k striploin steaks Westholme fullblood ex 003 cow by B0039 Donor

Australian Agricultural Company (AACo)

Buyer

Hughes Pastoral Company

$1,380

Drum of Dectomax Donor

Landmark & Pfizer

Generous donors and buyers generated $11,280

Buyer

Agreserves, Kooba Station

at the Royal Flying Doctor Service charity auction,

Four, AFL Medallion Club seats Ethiad Stadium

a highlight of the Wagyu National Conferenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

$3,000

Donor

Delaware North Companies

gala dinner at Geelong.

Buyer

JHW Paterson & Son, Hells Gate

This was the eighth RFDS charity auction conducted at the

Case of Jim Brand Coonawarra wine

Wagyu conference and was by far the most successful bringing

Donor

Jim Brand Wines

the total raised to $44,280, an amazing and most appreciated

Buyer

Crown Station

effort according to RFDS Victorian CEO Scott Chapman who was

Case of Jim Brand Coonawarra wine

on hand to introduce the auction and display the full size

Donor

Jim Brand Wines

RFDS simulator.

Buyer

Stockyard (Hart family)

$1,200

$800

$700

Several of the buyers and donors had been recipients of RFDS assistance.

Total raised

$11,280

Auctioneer was Philip Douglas from Landmark, Colac, Vic. n

LEFT TO RIGHT The

CEO of the Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria, Scott Chapman, with buyers at the Wagyu charity auction that raised $11,280 for the RFDS Matthew Keys of Crown Station that paid $800 for a case of Jim Brand wine, Aaron Graham of Agreserves that paid $1380 for Ivomec drench, and Jon Choi of Crown Station.

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

DECEMBER 2013

SUPPORTING THE RFDS ASSOCIATION

LEFT TO RIGHT Buyers

at the Wagyu charity auction that raised $11,280 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service included Peter and Jane Hughes, who paid $3000 for 1.5 kg of AACo’s Master Kobe fullblood MS 9+ striploin steaks. Greg Gibbons of AACo who paid $4200 for 450 days on feed for two Wagyu provided by Geoff Willett’s Maydan Feedlot, and Lachie Hart, Stockyard, who paid $700 for a case of Jim Brand’s Coonawarra wine.

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MARKETPLACE BEST IN SHOW

WAGYU DOMINATES SYDNEY BRANDED BEEF AWARDS For the fourth time in the past five years, a Fullblood Wagyu entry from Brisbane based retailer and exporter Cabassi & Co has been named ‘best in show’ and grand champion exhibit in the Sydney Royal 2013 Fine Foods branded beef competition. As reported in Beef Central, in a field of high profile brands from five states, the top exhibit was from Cabassi’s exclusive Black Label range, ‘our best of the best’ according to Peter Cabassi who said the previous winners had come from the Red Label range with a 6-7 marbling score. “We felt that for many Australian tastes the higher marbling scores could be a little overwhelming,” said Cabassi who this year decided to pull out all stops and enter his top of the range elite 9+ marbling score Black Label product. Black Label is produced through a carefully managed Fullblood high level Tajima Wagyu program with cattle bred at Greenhills Wagyu near Moss Vale,

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU UPDATE

NSW. From there the steers go to Geoff Willett’s specialist Wagyu feedlot, Maydan, near Warwick in SE Queensland for 500+ days on a Japanese style corn silage based ration followed by processing at Casino’s Northern Co-op Meat Co. Cabassi’s Black Label Wagyu can be found in five star restaurants in the USA, China and the Philippines. Consistent medal winner, Sydney based Andrews Meats, once again featured with their Tajima Wagyu Beef taking out the championship for Wagyu/other breeds after winning Gold in the shabu shabu class. Robbins Island Wagyu from Tasmania was also in the medals in the grassfed section. n

DECEMBER 2013

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