THE Australian National Wagyu Conference at the Royal Pines resort on Queensland’s Gold Coast in October has attracted one of its biggest crowds ever, with over 160 registered delegates from across Australia and several from overseas.
‘Export Horizons Going Global’ is the theme of the 13th annual event, aimed at preparing the Australian Wagyu industry to take advantage of having the largest Wagyu population in the world outside the now closed Japanese herd.
Exports of Wagyu cattle and genetics have expanded rapidly in recent times with numerous countries looking to Australia to expand their Wagyu industries.
The 2014 conference has been expanded from its usual format to include the inaugural Wagyu Fullblood 100 per cent International sale and special add-on workshops, ‘Skilling up with Wagyu’ and ‘Herd Level Eradication of BVDV (Pestivirus)’.
The Wagyu Fullblood 100 per cent International online sale through AuctionsPlus/Landmark opens on Wednesday, October 8, and concludes on Sunday, October 12, the final day of the conference.
The sale comprises 33 live fullblood Wagyu including three unique 'herd-starter' heifer lots, nine semen packages, 10 embryo packages and three embryo flushes. All cattle are Herdbook registered with the Australian Wagyu Association as the donors of the genetic material.
'Fullblood' means the complete pedigree of both sire and dam indicate forebears originating from Japan.
“With the surge in interest in the Wagyu breed, the Australian Wagyu Association inaugural genetics auction provides an ideal opportunity to purchase quality Wagyu genetics, both for those looking to enter the industry or for those wishing to expand their existing operations,” said the Wagyu Association of Australia’s president Scott de Bruin.
Traditionally, Wagyu cattle and genetics have been traded privately, and this is one of the first opportunities to bid at an auction, through the simultaneous Helmsman system.
In another first for the seedstock cattle industry, the sale will be open for bidding for four days and the progress of the auction can be viewed at any time during that period. Registered buyers can lodge bids from anywhere in Australia or overseas.
“This sale contains some very interesting and exciting genetics and is a forerunner for what we believe will be a much larger offering at the World Wagyu Conference at Yeppoon in central Queensland from May 8 to 10 next year, immediately following Beef 2015 at Rockhampton,” said Mr de Bruin.
The 2014 conference includes a wide range of speakers and topics with ample time for questions and discussions.
Keynote speaker is CEO of Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) Jason Strong. AACo runs the biggest Wagyu herd in the world with close to 70,000 head of purebred and crossbred Wagyu on its properties and feedlots.
Jason will explain how AACo has built its Australian supply chain and how their Wagyu branded beef operation is growing, and the significance of those brands in AACo’s revenues and profits.
The innovative Wagyu genetics discovery program, aimed at fast-tracking genetic improvement, will be explained, revealing how the breed is utilising the latest developments in genomics and camera imaging.
Sessions will cover the production and marketing of Wagyu genetics for domestic and international markets, product development and managing health issues.
One session sure to create interest is 'Japanese Wagyu - the old and the new' presented by Japanese-educated Australian veterinarian Matt Playford.
Wagyu genetic exports from Japan are no longer permitted. In Japan, the breed is rated as a ‘national treasure’.
'How to produce gold medal winning beef' will also be a revealing session as the successful contestants in the Wagyu Branded Beef Competition will be questioned by an experienced interviewer and the audience.
A variety of Wagyu beef dishes will be featured on the menus for the conference lunches and dinners. The Gala Dinner on Saturday, October 11, offers both a magnificent meal as well as the announcement of the Branded Beef Competition Award Winners and the Wagyu Grand Champion.
A limited number of places remain and booking details can be found at the Australian Wagyu Association website.
