WAGYU SOCIETY MISSION
“To transform the South African beef industry to be highly profitable with consumers demanding and enjoying a premium “and healthy” eating experience.”
CERTIFIED WAGYU BEEF PROGRAM
The Wagyu Society of South Africa has established the Certified Wagyu Beef Program (CWB) which aims to ensure the integrity of the South African Wagyu beef supply chain and so assure the end customer of product reliability and quality. For more details of the Certified Wagyu Beef Program (CWB), click here.
Wagyu SA is a proud member of:
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Livestock Registering Federation (LRF)
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Definition of Wagyu:
The breed definition of Wagyu beef in South Africa is:
- Any animal sired by a WSA registered sire which is Fullblood or Purebred (see Appendix 1 for Wagyu Breed Description).
- Minimum breed level is Crossbred Wagyu F1 with at least 50% Wagyu breed content with a maximum variation of 5%.
Certified Wagyu Beef (CWB):
- Wagyu breeding as per the South African Wagyu breed definition
- Minimum Marble Score 3
- Hormone free
- All males castrated prior to 5 months of age
- Ethically produced.
Certified Wagyu Beef (CWB):
- Wagyu breeding as per the South African Wagyu breed definition
- Minimum Marble Score 3
- Hormone free
- All males castrated prior to 5 months of age
- Ethically produced.
FAQ
1: Why breed Wagyu ?
Answer:
Marbling in Wagyu beef contributes markedly not only to tenderness and juiciness but importantly to taste. There is a real opportunity in South Africa for domestic producers to raise their herds to the level of quality beef that is growing in demand around the world including, South Africa. The mission on the South African Wagyu Society is to “Wagyu South Africa’s mission is to transform the South African beef industry to be highly profitable with consumers demanding and enjoying a premium eating experience. “. Simply put, we would like every South African to experience the magic that is Wagyu beef.
For the South African Wagyu producer there are financial benefits for producing a premium product. Despite a slow start in 2018-2020 significant premiums are now being paid by certain suppliers for Wagyu Slaughter Cattle with good marbling scores. Exports markets have been developed, the local retail sector is also selling Wagyu and Wagyu can now be found in many premium restaurants. A list of Certified Wagyu Beef Suppliers and producers can be found under the Database Search menu/ Member Search/ Select if “Member is a CWB Licensee”. Also read this interesting article Tasty premiums for Wagyu available | Mecardo that shows a significant premium for F1 Wagyu’s in Australia. Wagyu is now the third largest breed in that country.
2: Breeding and developing a Wagyu herd
Answer:
There are many producers who are using Wagyu bulls or who have Artificially Inseminated (AI) many of their commercial animals with Fullblood or Purebred Wagyu semen, and are looking at the opportunity to grade up over time to become a purebred herd, or to remain a commercial herd but command a premium price for their cattle (with a 50% Wagyu content). This article describes the process that producers can follow to either breed to a Fullblood or Purebred Wagyu herd or remain a commercial producer. Read More
3: Where can I buy the Wagyu Product?
Most leading retailers in South Africa sell Wagyu. Wagyu is also sold in many of the country’s leading butcheries. Look out for the Certified Wagyu Sticker to ensure that the product is authentic Wagyu. For a supplier list and online sales click here.
4: How can I Search for Members or Animals
5: Please Explain the Certified Wagyu Beef Program
Answer:
The Certified Wagyu Beef Program has been developed to ensure that all sectors of the Wagyu supply chain:
- ensure product integrity
- provide a consistent message to consumers regarding Wagyu beef as a product
- provide the Wagyu industry with the opportunity to market and brand the Wagyu product appropriately and
- protect the investment made by Wagyu South Africa members.
Using the DNA Wagyu content test, the Certified Wagyu Beef Program also assures Wagyu breed content in all sectors of the Wagyu supply chain as per the below. For more details on the program please revert to the Certified Wagyu Menu.
6: How do I submit data to the Society?
Answer:
There are two ways for producers to submit data to the Society.
- For larger herds (above 50 breeding cows) a herd management programs such as HerdMASTER (a BREEDPLAN product with a support office in South Africa).
- For smaller herds (less than 50 breeding cows) a Society Excel form for a) birth notifications, b) weights and traits and c) mating lists can be found here.
7: Is the Wagyu Beef Industry Sustainable ?
Answer:
The development of the Wagyu breed has been nothing short of spectacular and Wagyu cattle can now be found in 38 countries. The largest Wagyu population is still in Japan. A total of only about 200 full-bloods were shipped abroad in the late 70’s but it was enough to develop purebred herds in Canada, Australia and the United States. The introduction of the Wagyu Internationally has forever changed the beef industry and will do so in South Africa as well. If Wagyu penetrates only 5% of the South African market it will required 30 000 Seedstock (Stud) animals and 700 000 commercial animals. In a country such as Australia, Wagyu already makes up 5-10% of the content of all breeds. Read More
8: When should I weigh and record my animals ?
9: Wagyu breed descriptions
10: Where can I find the Society forms and reports ?
Certified Wagyu Beef is at the Hong Kong Food Expo
Wagyu SA Conference 2023
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CWB at the Hong Kong Food Expo – Important Notice