Rearing and Feeding

Lizz Clarke, Nutritionist for Warrendale Wagyu, gives an insight into the company’s Wagyu-crossbred rearing, growing and finishing enterprise.

How to feed Wagyu

Wagyu cattle are like any other commercial breed up until the end of the store period. They need a good quality growing ration of around 11m/d (megajoules of energy per kilogram of dry matter) and around 15%CP (crude protein). Fibre is important in any cattle diet as this is essentially what animals are designed to consume, and what they thrive on. Grass and grass-based products are perfect for growing - ensure you know the quality of any conserved forage products and balance them as required with additional energy or protein sources. Towards the end of the growing phase, starchy products should be introduced to start the marbling process.

Wagyu weanlings in winter housing. Aged around 9-11 months

The finishing period is a long, slow feeding regime. It takes around five months to obtain a good marble score on a high starchy diet which should be over 30% starch (in the dry matter). Ensure your diet contains starch from a few sources wherever possible - this will help prevent rumen upsets - a good source of fibre and protein is essential. The specification of a finishing diet is around 11.8-12.2m/d, and you should look for around 15% CP in the finishing diet to prevent excess subcutaneous (back) fat.

Wagyu-sired calf over a Holstein dam. Note the ‘British Wagyu’ branded DNA tag from Caisley

Intramuscular fat (marbling) and subcutaneous (back) fat should not be confused; they are not the same product. No correlation exists that an animal with high subcutaneous fat levels will have high levels of marbling. Predisposition to marbling is one of the Wagyu breed’s strengths and Warrendale’s pricing matrix reflects and rewards this desirable trait. There is, however, a deduction in premiums paid (pence per kilo) for high back fat levels (5s) - therefore ensure you have correct protein levels to prevent back fat formation.

Full nutritional advice, including forage analysis and farm visits, is available as required. Please contact Lizz Clarke, Warrendale Nutritionist E: lizz@warrendale-wagyu.co.uk