January 29, 2013

Wagyu Bio-Tech to produce China's first wagyu herd from imported embryos

Wagyu Bio-Tech Beijing is now the first firm in China to rear a wagyu herd solely from imported embryos.

In the foothills north of Beijing, not far from the border with Hebei Province, China's first herd of wagyu beef cattle are being primed for slaughter.

The first cuts of the beef should hit the market this summer, a remarkable achievement given that five years ago the herd was little more than a twinkle in the eye of an Australia-born wagyu beef cow.

Though wagyu is considered a national Japanese living treasure, significant herds also exist elsewhere, a result of the export of live animals to the US in 1975, and the subsequent transfer of genetics to Australia.

Back in 2007, Wagyu Bio-Tech Beijing began the process of extending this chain to China, seeking to capitalise on a growing domestic appetite for high-quality beef by becoming the first company to rear a wagyu herd in the country solely from imported embryos and semen.