It was around two years ago that Warrendale visited Jersey in the Channel Islands. That was when the idea about raising Jagyu (Jersey-Wagyu) began and in October the first weanlings will be on farm in Norfolk.

Jersey has around 2,400 head of dairy cows on the island across 12 dairy herds. The island keeps a small proportion of the dairy beef calves that are produced for their own use, but previously this was leaving around 1100 calves surplus to requirements each year.

As part of a new project, nine of the 12 farms are inseminating Wagyu semen into their Jersey cows to produce the dairy-beef ‘Jagyu’. So far there are around 70 calves on the ground with plans to increase numbers throughout the year.

So important is the potential of this project, that the dairies have applied to the local Jersey government for funding a state of the art rearing facility to raise the calves, meaning there is a potentially guaranteed channel for the calves born each year.

Once the calves are weanlings, they are transported to farms on the UK mainland. The first batch of 30 calves is destined for Alder Farm, Bury St Edmunds, with a second batch in December.

Jamie Brownrigg, Production Director said, ‘This is a really exciting project to bring the Jagyu brand to the forefront of people’s minds. However, we did want to ensure the highest welfare standards, so we are looking waiting until the calves are weanlings to the UK mainland to be grown and finished from there’.

The Jagyu calves are forming a key part of a nature restoration and management strategy in the area, with grazing taking place on wetlands in collaboration with the RSPB. Carefully managed grazing is proven to enhance species-rich habitats through the control of more dominant species and thus prevents scrub encroachment.

Not only is this a project that can make use of dairy calves, the cows can also form part of nature management, but once finished the nutrient-dense beef produced will also be a delicious addition to the Wagyu range.

These Jagyu weanlings are off to Norfolk

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