Brahman Cattle

The Brahman breed originated from Bos indicus cattle originally brought from India. Through centuries of exposure to inadequate food supplies, insect pests, parasites, diseases and the weather extremes of tropical India, the native cattle developed some remarkable adaptations for survival. These are the "sacred cattle of India," and many of the Hindu faith will not eat meat from them, will not permit them to be slaughtered, and will not sell them. These facts, in conjunction with he quarantine regulations of the United States, have made it difficult to import cattle from India into this country.

From Australian Shorthorns to Beef Shorthorns -Beef Shorthorns Society of Australia-

The Council of the Society resolved to set up the Australian Shorthorn Herd Book in September 1972.  The first volume of the Herd Book was published in 1974, together with Volume 25 of the Beef Shorthorn Herd Book.  The regulations pertaining to the new herd book were published at that time.  They were very simple, and were heavily weighted towards giving breeders an opportunity to register inspected cattle of suitable shorthorn type.  There was no provision for "breeding up" through the new herd book into the Beef Shorthorn Herd Book.  There was only one way of doing that - through the appendix register in the Beef Shorthorn Herd Book.

Red Meat -Green Fact-

The Australian red meat and livestock industry recognises that as custodians of nearly 50% of Australia's land mass that we have a responsibility to sustainably manage our environment for all Australians while providing a valuable, quality food product. We also recognise that we have an environmental impact, which we work hard to minimise. Importantly livestock farmers can play a key role in capturing Australia's carbon emissions by maintaining healthy soils, grasslands and trees.

Australian cattle industry cuts emissions by 6.5% per kg of beef produced

10 August 2010

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• Australia's beef industry has consistently reduced emissions intensity for producing beef since 1990
• Continued R&D aims to find ways to further reduce emissions while increasing productivity

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) today announced that the Australian beef industry has achieved a 6.5% reduction in emissions per kilogram of beef produced since Kyoto protocol reporting began in 1990 .

Markets for Wagyu

Wagyu production in Australia can be divided into two broad sections. Firstly, the production of straight bred Wagyu for either seed stock or feeder cattle production, or secondly, the use of Wagyu in crossbreeding programs to produce feeder and slaughter cattle.

The greatest application and interest in Australia is in infusing Wagyu into other breeds to improve meat quality and dollar value. Marbling is the most reliable component of meat taste and tenderness. Japanese consumers recognise this and are prepared to pay a premium for highly marbled meat. Wagyu can be mated to any breed to improve meat quality. The level of quality and premium achieved depends on the target market and quality of product.

Breed History of Wagyu Breed

Wagyu were originally draft animals used in cultivation, so they were selected for physical endurance.
This selection favoured animals with more intra-muscular fat cells -- marbling -- which provided a readily available
energy source.

Japanese Wagyu derive from native Asian cattle, which were infused with British and European breeds in the late 1800's. Although the breed was closed to outside breed lines in 1910, regional isolation has produced a number of different lines with varying conformation.

Mayura Wagyu - 2009 Vogue E & T Gold Medalist

Mayura Station has been confirmed as one of the nation’s finest meat producers after the Millicent-based company’s Wagyu Beef won a gold medal at the Vogue Entertaining and Travel Produce Awards in Sydney.

The award was judged by some of Australia’s leading chefs, including Matt Moran from Sydney’s Aria Restaurant, the Daylesford Lake House’s Alla Wolf-Tasker, and Cheong Liew from the Adelaide Hilton’s Grange Restaurant. “We’re absolutely thrilled to win a gold medal at these prestigious awards which celebrate the best of Australia’s produce, and the people committed to its continuing excellence,” Mayura Station manager Scott de Bruin said.

“These are arguably Australia’s most reputable awards for the food industry, judged by the leaders in the food service sector and supported by one of Australia’s leading media publications.”

It is the third year in a row that Mayura Wagyu has been named a finalist in the “From the Paddock” category. “This is our first gold medal and it really cements the fact that Mayura Station’s stringent quest for quality allows us to stand up and be counted among Australia’s elite producers,” Mr de Bruin said.