Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
Safeguarding the Wagyu breed’s integrity in Namibia
Namibian Wagyu breeders are highly committed to safeguarding the integrity of the industry and Wagyu beef produced in the country.
This was according to Johan Orffer, president of the Namibia Wagyu Society. A decision had therefore been taken by the society, supported by the Namibian Stud Breeders’ Association, as well as the Namibian Meat Board, that all Wagyu products produced in that country needed to be fully DNA-traceable.
That was why it was of vital importance that all Wagyus in Namibia needed to be registered with the society.
“Since Namibia is an exporter of red meat, all beef cattle in the country are already included in a national traceability system. Wagyu beef is a high-value product, and that is why we insist on a DNA traceability system as well,” he said.
According to Orffer, in other parts of the world such as Australia, there had been incidences of beef being “falsely” sold as Wagyu beef. The protection of the Namibian Wagyu products was therefore of the essence. Correct and comprehensive labelling formed the cornerstone of the industry. Orffer said no products without full DNA certification would be allowed on retail shelves.
This also included crossbred Wagyu beef, which had to include at least 50% Wagyu DNA. The Wagyu bull used in crossbreeding and its progeny needed to be registered with the society.
In Namibia, Wagyus were crossbred with breeds such as Bonsmara, Afrikaner, Drakensberger and Braunvieh.
The first Wagyu cattle were imported into Namibia in 2017. At the moment seven breeders, representing 210 full blood and 250 F1 crossbreeds, were registered with the society.
Orffer called, as a matter of urgency, for all imported Wagyus and their progeny to be registered with the society to put Wagyu breeding on a sound economic and financial footing right from the start.