Are Wagyu cattle any good?

Thick Farmer

Member
Location
West Wales
I've been offered some Wagyu x Friesian cattle.

Has anyone had any experience of finishing these? I assume there's no real premium so they will end up as 'commercial' beef.

What grade do they kill out at? I'm assuming it's similar to a Friesian and similar weights?

Any advice gratefully accepted.
 

Kiwi Pete

Member
Livestock Farmer
A shame if you can't get a premium for the beef, there's an outfit over here that markets wagyu into the states. Beautiful beef.
They are apparently very easy to calve, little head like a rabbit, and grow well but not huge like a 'proper' beefy, and extremely hardy. There are 6 different Wagyu with slightly different traits but the meat quality apparently is a dominant trait and even 1/4 Wagyu across dairy will have the superb marbling characteristics
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
https://amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2011/nov/16/asda-wagyu-beef-raising-steaks

Asda did a waygu named sire scheme some years ago (mainly dairy crosses) but I can't find anything current so I guess it's fallen through.

Some years ago I spent a great afternoon talking waygu with Steve Ramshaw at his Monkridge Farm in Northumberland. He is a very friendly chap and it was a most informative day. Give him a call, I'm sure he will be only too happy to discuss finishing and marketing with you.

http://www.wagyu-beef-direct.co.uk/index.php
 

sandywil90

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Ruthin
I hope so, Ive got some angus heifers calving down to longford in October!! Wagyu x Fri would also be a good cross (I know Holstein have a degree of marbling).
I've heard that the Wagyu are a little more sensitive than normal breeds but I don't have any first hand experience with these. I do have a customer who rears some wagyus and I'm pretty sure he gives them a little more TLC..

I have used Angus as maternal, as AA also have a good marbling effect on the meat..
I live in Ffostrasol, not sure where you are in W.Wales but if you do end up with them, Id be interested in coming to have a look!! Bit of a cow/calf geek myself..
 

sandywil90

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Ruthin
Sorry to be a dissenting voice on this one, but unless you can market them on the fact that they are Wagyu crosses, think along the lines of the crappiest Angus crosses, and you won't be far off the mark!
Sorry to be a dissenting voice on this one, but unless you can market them on the fact that they are Wagyu crosses, think along the lines of the crappiest Angus crosses, and you won't be far off the mark!
Respect your view.. but I wont be marketing mine at £200/kg. They wont be full bloods!!
I'm just dipping my toe in the ocean and seeing where it takes me. You have got to look at every opportunity available in life..
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
Sorry to be a dissenting voice on this one, but unless you can market them on the fact that they are Wagyu crosses, think along the lines of the crappiest Angus crosses, and you won't be far off the mark!

The ones I saw in Northumberland (F1 and pure) looked awful, confirmation wise. Steve himself said you couldn't put the animals through a ring - you'd get laughed out.

But then he showed me an F1 sirloin steak he was defrosting for dinner - marbling wasn't the word! I tried a burger and the toughest part of the meal was the bun!
 

Thick Farmer

Member
Location
West Wales
Sorry to be a dissenting voice on this one, but unless you can market them on the fact that they are Wagyu crosses, think along the lines of the crappiest Angus crosses, and you won't be far off the mark!

This is what worries me - how much are they worth in reality? They look like Angus crosses with really poor conformation! I'd go as far as to say the Friesian part is actually improving them!
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 65 34.9%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.1%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 6 3.2%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,287
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top