An interesting departure from his pure-bred Shorthorn herd has been the decision by Charlie Arnott, and property manager Robert Young to join 40 Shorthorn heifers by AI to Wagyu bulls at the 2100 hectare “Hanaminno”, Boorowa.
“We have a pure Shorthorn base and this year we have the first drop of Wagyu cross weaners,” Mr Young said.
“It is giving us another marketing option, but we were primarily targeting a small calf and so reduce issues with calving.”
“We can take them through to grass fed Wagyu beef which is not common in the marketplace, but we would like to think it could be a developing market.
“There are organic grass fed Wagyu producers out there and they are getting a premium, but they are pure-breds.”
Mr Young said in having a cross-bred animal there is an increased level of marbling in the grass-fed product.
“But you still have an animal which will reach domestic feeder weight at 12-15 months,” Mr Young said.
The driver behind the initiative was to reduce dystokia and there are a variety of breeds which could have been used but Wagyu was seen as the breed that had the biggest potential return on their investment because the cross was different to everything else.
“I guess it was achieving two things,” Mr Arnott said.
“There was the value-add product essentially and helping us to reduce potential for calving problems.
“And with the cross of Shorthorn and Wagyu, I think was a very attractive combination to have.”
Mr Young noted the growth rates of the Wagyu-cross weaners are on par with the purebred Shorthorns: it was something Mr Arnott said they weren’t sure about when the concept was discussed.
“We had considered we may have to accept a reduced growth rate,” Mr Young said.
“But at this point it hasn’t panned out that way.”
The next stage for the Wagyu-cross is yet to be decided, but Mr Young said in an ideal world they would be sold through a butcher shop as a grass-fed trade weight.
“It will be interesting to see what the demand will be or the opportunities for selling the grass-fed Wagyu-cross calves,” Mr Arnott said.
“We aren’t certified organic, but it is our philosophy and I think ‘biodynamic’ is closer to the point of what we actively do here.”
The cross is a terminal joining with all progeny to be sold.
“Our core business is to retain the pure-bred Shorthorn herd and those Wagyu-cross females are a meat product essentially unless someone wants them for breeders,” Mr Young said.
“The weaners are AI calves and this year they will be the progeny of a natural joining having bought a bull from Peter Bishop’s Kuro Kin stud near Scone.”
Mr Arnott noted the current weaners are the first through their system, it will be interesting to see how far the product can be taken.
“We have been selling our Shorthorns at domestic weight through the 1888 butcher shop in Double bay,” he said.
“That outlet is something we want to maintain; however, with the Wagyu article that might open other doors.
“I have also been chatting with the head butcher at Victor Churchill Fine Family Butcher in Woollahra, and I would like to get some of our meat through his shop.
“There are no guarantees, but I feel it is a good opportunity, and the Wagyu/Shorthorn cross might be a point of difference.”
Mr Arnott pointed out grass-fed Shorthorn product is not seen in shops.
“It is all Angus … you might get some of the heritage breeds like British White, and some Hereford, so I think we have a point of difference.”
