Wagyu

The farm have just embarked on a new and exciting breeding project. In 2011 Highland Wagyu purchased 100% Fullblood Wagyu cattle and embryos.

The embryo program is going to plan and the new arrivals are doing well. The Wagyu calves are keeping us all very busy, and we are learning new things about this amazing breed everyday.

Wagyu mothers are pretty amazing; they are extremely maternal and very protective over each other’s calves as George the stockman found out!

The calves not only suckle from their mother but from any one of the mothers. In fact we often see three calves suckling on one cow at the same time.

Not only do they have good calving ease but also a very calm temperament, this also goes for the Wagyu stockbulls that are very calm and easy to handle. Wagyu are very fertile, the bulls have a high servicing capacity at a young age and the heifers reach sexual maturity very young.

The genetics acquired so far are the ultimate high grade. Focusing heavily on breeding 100% Fullblood Wagyu, but have also started to cross the Wagyu with a few of the other breeds on the farm.

Fullblood Wagyu cattle or beef coming from 100% Japanese black Wagyu genetics is currently being produced around the world. Such Fullblood Wagyu is DNA-verified to be from original Japanese genetics. We are members of The Australian Wagyu Association, which is the largest breed association outside Japan.

At the end of July 2013 Highland Wagyu purchased a herd of Wagyu from another breeder which makes us the biggest Wagyu breeders in the Uk. With the importance of genetics we are looking to achieve a marbling score of 9+. Marbling is graded on a scale of 0-9 with 9 being the highest.