ABP Food Group has this morning (Tuesday, April 20) announced the opening its Wagyu Programme for new farmer applications.

The ABP Wagyu Programme has been in operation for several years now and offers dairy farmer-members free artificial insemination (AI) straws and a guaranteed minimum price for their calves.

Speaking to Agriland, Aideen Bates from the ABP farm liaison team explained that ABP is now opening the programme for new applications from dairy and beef farmers interested in the initiative.

She explained that beef farmers involved in the initiative "will receive a healthy three-week-old calf and a guaranteed minimum base price for their finished beef cattle."

The ABP farm liaison team representative said: "We are looking to recruit dairy farmers to take Wagyu straws and calf-to-beef farmers that will take three-week-old Wagyu calves all the way to beef.

"With a competitive pricing structure guaranteed for both parties, we are offering an attractive alternative cash flow option for farmers.

"The dairy farmer receives free AI straws and a guaranteed price for calves next spring and the beef farmer receives a healthy three-week-old calf and a guaranteed minimum base price for finished beef cattle."

Monaghan-based dairy and beef farmer in the ABP Wagyu Programme

Based in Co. Monaghan, Nigel Donaldson is a dairy farmer who also takes his calves through to beef.

He has been involved in the ABP Wagyu Programme for the past few years and sent the first of his Wagyu-sired progeny for slaughter this spring.

Commenting on his experience of the initiative, he said: "I received the AI straws from ABP and used them on my mature cows.

"They were very easy calved and good lively, healthy calves. I ran them along with the rest of my calves and brought them through to finish.

"They averaged 300kg carcass-weight at 21 months-of-age so I was very happy.

"I will use more of the Wagyu semen on the cows this year."

How it works

Wagyu calves are purchased from dairy farmers at three-weeks-old and collected from the yard at no cost to the dairy farmer.

Alternatively, dairy farmers can also take their own calves through to beef or sell these as weanlings or store cattle - depending on what suits their system.

The ABP farm liaison officer said: "We would like to get as many farmers on board as possible to grow our programme as Wagyu beef is growing in popularity."

For more information on the initiative, farmers can call Aideen Bates from the ABP farm liaison team on 086 1653501.