Farmers opt for wagyu
Firstlight Foods supply chain manager Peter Keeling is keen to talk to Canterbury dairy farmers about the prospect of a guaranteed buyer for a higher value calf in a year when dairy payouts are low.
A $23 million primary growth partnership led by Firstlight Foods and Brownrigg Agriculture Group in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries utilises calves that are of little value to the dairy industry.
When crossed with wagyu sires, dairy breeds including friesian and friesian/jersey have shown they can produce the superior marbled wagyu beef.
Wagyu is a Japanese breed of cattle, famous globally for its nutty-flavoured, fat-marbled beef that is higher in omega 3 than traditional beef breeds.
In Japan, wagyu are raised on grain, fed beer and sake and massaged to tenderise the meat. The beef commands upwards of US$200 for 100g in high-end Japanese restaurants. In New Zealand, wagyu-cross animals were raised on grass, which gave a unique end product, said Firstlight general manager Gerard Hickey.
‘‘There has been a swing in US and northern European markets away from industrialised grain fed beef towards New Zealand’s yearround forte of grass fed productions. Firstlight is cashing in on this.The high marbling scores of the wagyu animals finished on grass is the key point of difference. Typically grass fed animals have an average marbling score of one to two. Our cattle have an average marbling score of 4.5 on a scale of 1-9.
‘‘Dairy farmers now have the opportunity to mate their cows with wagyu genetics and receive a premium payment for a four-day old calf of $150. Or they have the option to rear it until weaned, again receiving a premium of $475 for a 90kg animal and having the security of a contracted buyer at the end of the period.
‘‘Wagyu is already recognised as the pinnacle in terms of beef demanded by consumers globally, and the opportunity is significant in terms of the economic benefit it can bring to a farming operation.’’