| 51 Rest of the world ‘clamouring for Wagyu’ Karen Phelps Wagyu breeders have played a long game in New Zealand but in recent years the industry has started to take off, says Malcom Collier, president of the New Zealand Wagyu Breeders Association. His purebred herd, Wakarua Wagyu, is one of the stalwarts of the industry, and he is seeing increased interest in the bulls he sells to the market. “Although around 10% of Australian beef herd is Wagyu it’s been a bit of a case of chicken and egg in New Zealand. Without critical mass it takes brave people with plenty of capital and business nous to make it y. But over the last four years or so Wagyu has become more desired due to the good return and that’s given me, for example, the incentive to increase the size of my operation,” he says. Born and raised on a farm in Taihape, Malcom headed straight to the family farm after leaving RURAL PEOPLE » Wakarua Station Malcom Collier, president of the New Zealand Wagyu Breeders Association, says he is seeing increased interest in the bulls he sells from his purebred Wakarua Wagyu herd. school and bought into the business in the early 90s. Relatives invested in purebred Wagyu in 1992 and Malcolm’s family’s farming business followed suit and bought F1Wagyu heifers in 1994. In 2008 he sold up in Taihape and moved to Snells Beach. He kept 150 Wagyu, farming them on leased land while working as a property manager for a tertiary college and as a builder. Covid-19 saw the building work dry up prompting him to take the leap to increase his Wagyu operation. He moved to Pakaraka, between Morewa and Kerikeri, last year now farming 250 full blood and purebred Wagyu on 130ha. Full blood Wagyu are where sire and dam are 100% descended from the original Wagyu in Japan. Malcom’s focus is on easy calving, growth rates and marbling scores. Dairy farmers are regular clients, using Wagyu to improve the value of their calves. Reinvigorating the largely dormant New Zealand Wagyu Breeders Association has been another focus. Although originally established in 1992, due to an historic lack of return on wagyu, breeders had become disparate and disheartened. In 2014 a concerted effort was made to revive the association. Malcom says this has given breeders much needed support. “It’s given owners the opportunity to participate and be part of a community of Wagyu breeders. Until now there hasn’t been the unity or means for farmers to involve themselves in the industry,” he says. It’s also resulted in the association recently investing in a Wagyu herd performance recording system an important step to ensure the integrity of the breed in New Zealand. “The importance of accurate veri able records cannot be over emphasized,” says Malcom. “For example rst cross animals are a long way genetically from full blood ones in terms of value and meat quality. “They should not both be called Wagyu. F1 animals have only 50% Wagyu genetics therefore; rst cross cattle are crossbred Wagyu or F1. For the cattle to be called Wagyu they need to be purebred or full blood. Herd information needs to be backed by accurate records and DNA parentage tests to give buyers con dence.” Wagyu is a burgeoning industry in New Zealand and one with great potential, he says. “For me it was more of a sideline until more recent years. Most of my income was from other things. I guess I’m a bit stubborn and I believe in the breed having seen the rest of the world clamouring for it. There’s de nitely a lot of potential for wagyu in New Zealand and it’s starting to happen.” Our Waipapa branch has an experienced team of vets and support staff who have a wealth of knowledge in the veterinary industry. Proudly supporting Wakarua Station 09 401 6654 waipapa@bayvets.co.nz Mike Colthurst Rural Sales Specialist M 021 741 414 P 09 438 8667 Property Brokers had great pleasure in selling Malcolm and Chari the new home for their Wagyu stud. For all your rural sales requirements, contact Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 PB066063
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