| Wagyu in Australia |
|
Australia received its first Wagyu genetics, a Wagyu female, in 1990. Frozen semen and embryos have been available since 1991 and there have been further imports of live purebreds. The introduction of Wagyu cattle to Australia has been a costly, long-term project as there has been no protocol with Japan for direct imports. Initially, the Australian herd was greatly influenced by a shipment of five fullblood animals exported from Japan to the United States in 1993. These included the two bulls; Michifuku and Haruki II, and the three cows; Suzutani, Rikitani and Okutani. These cattle were followed by three further shipments of live cattle. In 1995, there was a major shipment from the famed Takeda farm stud of Mr Shogo Takeda. The Takeda shipment comprised 37 cows and 5 bulls. Four of those bulls qualified for semen shipment to Australia. The most significant importation of live cattle took place in January 1997 when the first live fullbloods came into Australia. The Wagyu breed is gaining strength and popularity as it becomes more apparent to Australian beef producers that there is a real need and demand for quality carcasses that derive from the marbling prominent in the Japanese genetics. The Wagyu breed is unsurpassed for its marbling and ability to improve meat quality in cross breeding programmes. While this is important in improving the capacity of Australia's exports to Japan to 'grade' higher, it will also play a major role in improving the quality of beef for domestic consumption.
|