From “wonky” potatoes to world-class Wagyu

The Wagyu cattle enjoy their tattie meal.

As part of its programme, BBC Scotland’s premier farming show, visited Gaindykehead far in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire.

Warrendale Farmer Yasmin Brown is undertaking an innovative finishing system for Wagyu cattle. Instead of conventional feeds, she is using large quantities of rejected “wonky” potatoes — those odd-shaped tubers deemed unsuitable for supermarket shelves — sourced from a factory around five miles away.

The logic is clever and circular: by giving each animal up to 25 kg of potatoes per day, the high starch content encourages rapid weight gain and promotes the intramuscular fat (marbling) that defines Wagyu beef. The high water content of potato also contributes to juicier meat.

Since Wagyu grading is determined not by the outward appearance of the animal but by its internal “marble score” (often assessed via camera after processing), the finishing diet becomes absolutely central to value. Yasmin weighs her animals every 4-6 weeks, tracks each via a Livestock Management app, and monitors weight trajectories carefully to ensure the diet delivers both weight gain and fat development.

Yasmin uses a Livestock Management tool and weigh bars to track DLWG

Yasmin also explained about the special camera that is used for measuring the marbling of the carcase. She said, ‘Your normal beef breeds… you get paid for the shape of them. With [Wagyu] it’s all about how high quality your steaks are’.

Landward is shown on BBC Scotland. You can see the episode on the BBC iPlayer.

GO BACK