12 minute read
Showcasing global Wagyu Sector diversity
Two breeders share their stories
The AWA membership now spans 32 countries, showcasing the diversity of Wagyu production across the globe. Many AWA members began their Wagyu story not so long ago, including Wyndford Wagyu (England) and Chiconi Grazing (Queensland). This growth in membership underscores the increasing popularity and demand for high-quality Wagyu beef worldwide.
Wyndford Wagyu and Chiconi Grazing are two examples of AWA members who recently embarked on their Wagyu journeys. Despite their geographical and lifestyle differences, what unites them is their shared dedication to producing exceptional Wagyu genetics and delivering delicious and nutritious Wagyu beef to consumers.
The diversity of AWA membership and the dedication of members like Wyndford Wagyu and Chiconi Grazing demonstrate the global excellence in Wagyu production, no matter where you are in the world.
Wyndford Wagyu
Shropshire, England
Quick facts
Wagyu production commencement 2018.
Herd size (current) 460 Fullblood Wagyu, 180 Holstein recipients
Markets Fullblood Wagyu direct to consumer and global genetic sales
Land size 3,800 acres
Based in the picturesque midlands of Shropshire, England, Wyndford Wagyu has a unique story that blends Holstein farming heritage with a newfound passion for Wagyu production. The Shropshire region boasts grade 1 and 2 arable land, ideal for cropping and livestock production. In the UK, dairy farming dominates the landscape; however, Wyndford Wagyu represents a growing trend of integrating Wagyu beef into a dairy program. This approach aims to enhance the profitability of the meat while maintaining a high-quality milking herd.
Fullblood Wagyu production in England is very small, with most producers selling directly to consumers from either the farm gate or online. The vast majority, if not all, of Wagyu that is seen on supermarket shelves is an F1 product.
Transitioning from 60 years of Holstein breeding
Phillip Maddock and his brother Richard are third generation farmers, having taken over the farming business from their dad, David. Phillip's passion for salad and determination to create new opportunities inspired him to create PDM Produce in the 1990s. His genuine love and respect for the land, desire to grow the robust produce and passion for innovation are at the heart of everything that PDM do. PDM initially focused on growing iceberg lettuce on 10 acres of land. Over time, PDM expanded its operations to encompass 3800 acres of salad crops, making it a leading producer of whole-head lettuce, baby leaf greens, and fully prepared bagged salads in the UK.
In 2018, Wyndford Wagyu emerged as a result of the Maddocks family's decision to disperse their renowned Holstein herd following a downturn in the dairy industry. Philip and Richard didn't have a huge interest in dairy cattle but wished to keep cattle on the farm for their father's enjoyment. Remembering a Wagyu steak he had tried in America, Philip was inspired to explore this new venture - "let's try this", he said. Philip was also driven by a desire to produce a luxury product, as the PDM salad venture was a high-volume, low-margin business and the Wagyu business was intended to be the opposite. Driven by a longing for innovation and a return to farm traditions, Philip Maddocks initiated the import of Wagyu cattle from Germany to revitalise the farm.
Importing the cattle from Germany presented initial challenges with registration, but this effort eventually allowed the genetics to be widely used throughout the herd as they managed to register 10 out of the 11 animals. These animals were first registered with the
American Wagyu Association (AmWA) as more of the pedigree and DNA were stored with them. Soon after, they were registered with the Australian Wagyu Association (AWA), proving the power of collaboration within the industry. Registration through the AWA opened the door to Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) to accelerate the genetic capability of the herd.
EU restrictions on semen are still a consideration for Wyndford. To overcome this, they maintain a small herd in the US to facilitate the collection of semen and embryos that are later shipped for use to the UKbased Holstein recipient herd.
Wyndford Wagyu now
Over the past five years, the herd has expanded significantly, encompassing more than 270 Fullblood Wagyu cattle and 180 Holstein recipients. Collaborating with leading global Wagyu breeders, they've meticulously built their foundation herd, establishing themselves as pioneers in the industry.
Wyndford Wagyu stands as the UK's largest Fullblood Wagyu herd, with an emphasis on developing a genetically exceptional foundation herd. With the guidance of renowned breeders worldwide, they have invested in top-tier genetics. From humble beginnings to industry leaders, they aim to produce the highest quality Wagyu beef and genetics.
Wyndford Wagyu is known for its extensive data collection and progressive use of BREEDPLAN EBVs in its breeding program. 75% of their herd is above average for the SRI index, with 7% of their herd sitting in the top 1% of the breed. Wyndford utilises programs such as the AWA-PTP to genetically prove their sires through data collection and effectively improve their herd. Additionally, their data collection methods incorporate MIJ camera technology, which enables precise analysis of every carcase they produce (figure 1). Their primary objective is to ensure the delivery of high-quality products to the end consumer.
Their distinguished herd is the heart of their operations. Raised with care on their Shropshire farm, the company takes pride in adhering to stringent welfare standards as the cattle are treated with respect. Their focus on quality over quantity enables personalised attention to each animal, and ethics and sustainability drive Wyndford Wagyu. The wellbeing of their Herd and the environment takes precedence, as they advocate for responsible and regenerative farming practices. Wyndford's crop management integrates seamlessly with the PDM rotation, enabling them to cultivate higher-value crops such as whole-crop rye. They strategically harvest higher up the plant, enhancing the grain-to-stem ratio, thereby creating a superior feed product for their cattle. Simultaneously, this practice contributes organic matter back into the soil, benefiting their sustainability efforts. Wyndford also work with Australian based company 4Sight to help convert their Wagyu muck into compost, which can then be used on the salad crop adding back into their ground.
Stress-free environments are vital for the cattle, and Wyndford ensures gentle and respectful handling. Treatments and vaccinations are administered on an individual basis to minimise unnecessary handling, aligning with responsible farming principles.
Each animal is named, DNA tested, and registered for complete traceability. Early interventions during the weaning period ensure the animals' genetic potential for marbling is maximised, with nutrient-rich feed enhancing intramuscular fat for improved performance.
Wyndford Wagyu runs its operation in five separate units to reduce disease risk.
Calf unit
Same-sex paired - all calves housed in twin hutches,
Post-weaning - lay off shed for testing.
Having faced the challenges of hand-rearing the majority of our Wagyu, they are in the process of designing and building a specialised calf rearing and young stock unit.
Specialised bull unit
Sending multiple bulls per month into a specialised accredited semen collection facility to enable us to sell good quality semen globally. There is exciting news in this area that we are looking to share with everybody very soon! This is a huge focus of our business. Feed – 19% nut with high-quality grass hay.
Specialised embryo unit
For high-value females, high health:
High Protein Nut (18%) with Grass Haylage,
Full specialised mineral pack.
Growing and finishing unit
For all non-breeding stock:
74% Whole Crop Rye, 25% Grass Silage,
1% Wheat Straw, 2kg 14% protein grower ration,
14% protein and 31% Starch,
Full Mineral Pack.
Recipient sheds
All housed indoors in headlocks:
TMR ration 5% straw and 18% whole crop rye, 75% grass silage, 2% Wheat Straw, 1kg Liquid Molasses and 2kg of 18% Protein Nut,
Full Mineral Pack.
Future Wyndford Wagyu
Wyndford Wagyu has big plans, including improving and maintaining their elite female nucleus herd to continue producing top-quality genetics. They are excited to move from using breed average females and above to the top 1% of females in their breeding program. Expanding sales of semen, embryos and live cattle to the global market will play a prominent role in taking their business to the next level. All while striving for continuous innovation and sustainable farming practices for efficient production.
Wyndford Wagyu's commitment to excellence, animal welfare, and sustainable practices underscores its reputation as a pioneering force in the Wagyu industry.
Chiconi Grazing (Ausgyu)
Mungallala, Queensland Australia
Quick facts
Wagyu production commencement 2017
Herd size (current) 2,500 breeders 1,200 feeders
Markets Feeders sold exclusively to Mort & Co, Grassdale Feedlot.
Land size 84,911 acres
Taylors Plains, a sprawling 84,911-acre property acquired in 2003, is integral to Chiconi Grazing's endeavours. A familyrun enterprise, the team consists of Noel and Jo-Anne, alongside their son Gary and his wife Jessie Chiconi.
Established in 2017, Chiconi Grazing (Ausgyu) embarked on a journey of innovation within the Wagyu breeding landscape. Prompted by participating in the 2017 AWA Wagyu Conference, the organisation sought to enhance their breeding program and elevate its property's profitability. This led to the strategic decision to venture into Fullblood, Purebred, and F1 Wagyu production.
From the inception of their endeavour, the Chiconi Family accorded utmost priority to acquiring exemplary foundation females from renowned seedstock producers, including Macquarie Wagyu, Trent Bridge Wagyu, Mayura Wagyu and Sahara Park Wagyu. These choices were made with meticulous attention to detail, focusing on a wide range of attributes. These attributes included growth potential, milk production capabilities, and carcass weight, all of which were vital in infusing subsequent generations with terminal qualities such as marbling, Eye Muscle Area (EMA), and yield.
The careful selection of these foundation females provided a remarkable opportunity to diversify their gene pool significantly. This diversification, in turn, granted them an array of versatile options for pairings and sire joinings. The Chiconi’s could effectively enhance crucial attributes such as marbling, eye muscle development, and retail beef yield through these strategic combinations. This comprehensive approach allowed them to pursue immediate gains and long-term advancements in their cattle breeding program.
Furthermore, they have placed significant emphasis on the structural integrity of these high-value animals. As a result, they maintain a vigilant and critical monitoring of their physical composition. This ongoing scrutiny ensures that their genetic attributes are optimised and possess the necessary structural qualities to thrive in the central Queensland location and breeding program.
Notable females purchased to date:
BDWFK1197 - top-priced female 2017 AWA Elite Wagyu Sale,
TBRFG0132 - highest priced female sold, AuctionsPlus 2017
ADBFR2150 - a nice stylish medium framed heifer out of the highest carcase performing combination of Shigeshigetani, JNR and Kitateruyasudoi, with a combined total of 1182 carcase records between them make this heifer an excellent opportunity to secure genetics that will improve carcase performance. Each sire is proven with high accuracy on carcase traits of 91%, 98% and 97%. Respectively. She has a rare combination of positive EBVs for Milk, CWT, EMA and Marble Score.
Scott De Bruin, 2022
SPWFP2 - Sired by Itozurudoi himself, P2 is a full sister to the sire who produced the 2023 AWA Branded Beef Winner, purchased in 2019 from the AWA Elite Sale.
SPWFS400 - Sired by Kanadagene 100 himself, S400 was purchased at the 2023 AWA Elite Sale for $56,000.
SPWFS32 - Sired by Yasufuku Jnr himself, S32 is the full sister to the record breaking sire sold for $240,000 (2022 Elite Wagyu Sale). Purchased for $65,000, S32 is the most expensive animal purchased to date.
Transition from Angus to Wagyu
At Chiconi Grazing, the change in direction from Angus to Wagyu production At Chiconi Grazing, the change in direction from Angus to Wagyu production back in 2017 represents a commitment to excellence and the strategic evolution of their cattle operation. While their Angus heritage laid the foundation for their esteemed reputation, the shift to Wagyu is not just about embracing the future but also about honouring their past. This transformation shapes the trajectory of their operation in a way that respects and builds upon their history.
The Chiconi Angus herd is characterised by performance excellence. They created a breeding program that emphasised and enhanced maternal and terminal traits through meticulous performance recording and carcase data analysis. These Angus females served as the cornerstone of their operation, consistently producing resilient females and marketable offspring ideally suited for the challenging climatic conditions of their region.
Transitioning to Wagyu was an opportunity the Chiconi family could not ignore, driven by their commitment to excellence and innovation. The reasoning behind the decision is 5-fold: elevated fertility, increased eating experience, climatic resilience, concise genetic science and financial profitability.
As they shifted their focus towards Wagyu production, they remained conscious of the Angus heritage. The Angus females that are still part of the herd continue to play a vital role in the company's F1 production. They bring together the best characteristics of both breeds while harnessing hybrid vigour's advantages.
Chiconi grazing now & into the future
Fast forward six years, and the Chiconi Family run 2,500 breeders on Taylors Plains Station, producing approximately 1,200 feeders a year. All feeders are exclusively sold to Mort & Co. to be fed at their Grassdale Feedlot.
Their dedication to Wagyu has increased investment in Purebred and Fullblood breeders. While Angus still has a presence in current operations, these Wagyu genetics are paving the way for the future to consistently produce high-quality F1, Purebred, and Fullblood Wagyu carcases. Their goal is to develop a thriving seedstock fullblood genetic program, offering meticulously designed, traditionally enhanced genetics that is sought after by renowned producers worldwide.
Their vision is a flourishing operation of Chiconi Grazing Pty. Ltd., rooted in principles involving family members, sustained growth, resource optimisation, innovation in management practices, diversified interests, infrastructural enhancement, premium food production, and cost-efficient practices.
Chiconi Grazing's narrative is of foresight, adaptation, and an enduring commitment to excellence within the Wagyu breeding landscape.
