BRITISH WAGYU ASSURANCE SCHEME BUILDS ON RED TRACTOR CERTIFICATION

The Wagyu Breeders Association (WBA) has teamed up with leading farm assurance certification bodies SAI Global and NSF to underpin their British Wagyu Assurance Scheme. As all its 200+ partner farmers are already Red Tractor members, the WBA has added a ‘bolt-on’ to the farm’s regular Red Tractor audit for cost-effectiveness and ease of use. This means assessors can check the additional stipulations of the WBA Assurance Scheme at the same time as the usual on-farm audit.

WBA Company Secretary Richard Saunders (l) and Warrendale Wagyu Production Director Jamie Brownrigg (r) pictured with Red Tractor Technical Manager Jemma Holden at October’s Borderway Agri Expo

These include:

Whole-life Red Tractor assured status
British Wagyu-branded approved eartag
Wagyu DNA sire verification
Dams either dairy-bred or native breeds
BVD tested virus negative
Minimum slaughter age 24 months

Trademarked logo of British Wagyu Assured

Commenting, WBA Director Chris Dickinson said: “The British Wagyu assurance scheme leads the industry in terms of traceability, animal welfare and consumer trust, enhancing in turn the integrity and value of premium Wagyu beef.”

WBA Company Secretary Richard Saunders (r) & Warrendale Wagyu Production Director Jamie Brownrigg (c) pictured with SAI Global UK & Ireland Agriculture Development Manager Nik Searston (l)

Red Tractor is the flagship logo of British food and farming

Red Tractor Beef & Lamb Board Chairman, John Dracup, added: “As the UK’s most trusted assurance scheme, Red Tractor provides the confidence to UK shoppers and diners, that beef carrying its logo has been produced with care, and delivers the high standards expected of British farmers and growers. Red Tractor ensures that the Wagyu beef scheme is a traceable product which meets high levels of animal welfare.”

Full rules around the WBA Assurance Scheme can be found on www.britishwagyu.co.uk.