Export opportunity in land of 630kg carcases for over €15,000
About 500 calves were registered to Wagyu sires in Ireland last year, up from just 300 the previous year.
Wagyu is a famous breed of Japanese cattle, producing beef characterised by the rich concentration of intramuscular fat, or marbling.
On average, Japanese Wagyu steers enter the fattening stage at around ten months old, and are not slaughtered until they reach 28 to 32 months of age, with carcase weights ranging from 450 to 650kg.
Wagyu animals are no longer unique to Japan, with niche programmes and producer groups set up in a number of beef-producing countries.
Ironically, it is possible that Ireland could export Wagyu beef back to Japan, with our beef trade to the far eastern country increasing four-fold last year, to a value of €7 million.
Ireland regained market access for beef to Japan in late 2013, and our exports have consisted mainly of frozen tongues, along with some other offal items.
However, the recently announced Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and Japan will create greater opportunities to export beef cuts to Japan. In the first year of implementation of the EPA, import tariffs on beef will be lowered from 38.5% to 27.5%.
The rate will gradually reduce to 9%. The Japanese market is only 40% self-sufficient in beef, and beef imports totalled 504,000 tonnes in 2016, along with 106,000 tonnes of beef offals. Key suppliers include Australia (53%), USA (35%) and New Zealand (5%).
Bord Bia recently organised a promotional seminar in Tokyo, which attracted more than 50 major Japanese beef buyers. This event is part of an EU-funded campaign which seeks to highlight Europe’s high standards of food safety, quality and sustainability across several Asian markets.
The delegation visited the Shibaura meat market in central Tokyo, where beef carcases are are auctioned to wholesale buyers.
The Irish delegation was amazed to see the 630kg carcase of a pure-bred Wagyu steer selling for over €15,000.
