Rangers Valley, based at Glen Innes, NSW, took out gold in the cross-bred class, while silver medals in accordance with the judges’ stringent criteria were awarded to Hammond Farms, Smithton, Tasmania, and Goorambat Wagyu, Seymour, Victoria, for their grassfed products.
The inaugural competition attracted 13 entries from 11 of the nation’s prominent Wagyu producers, across three judging categories: full-blood Wagyu (100 percent Japanese genetics, typically fed 500-plus days); crossbred Wagyu (typically F1 or F2 over Angus dams, fed 300-450 days); and significantly, for the first time, a grassfed Wagyu class.
Pat Dempsey, AA Co’s general manager, beef group, said AA Co was proud to be recognised in the inaugural competition.
“The Wagyu Branded Beef competition not only provides a unique opportunity to showcase the very best Wagyu in Australia, but also raises the profile of the Australian Wagyu industry,” he said.
“These awards are testament to the quality and usability of AA Co’s products, and reinforce the company’s focus on quality, food safety and consistency throughout the entire supply chain.
They also recognise the dedication of our people and innovation in our breeding, genetics, backgrounding and lotfeeding programs.”
Master Kobe is derived from fullblood and pure-bred Wagyu cattle that have spent 500-plus days on a highly specialised grain ration, to achieve a minimum marble score of nine.
Greg Gibbons, general manager, Wagyu and feedlots, said AA Co had the largest full-blood Wagyu herd in Australia, with more than 30,000 Wagyu-infused animals on feed at company owned and controlled feedlots in Central Queensland and on the Darling Downs.
“These achievements have been made possible as a result of our innovative Wagyu breeding program which we implemented eight years ago,” he said.
“The winning Master Kobe product was bred from our 003 Tajima line, which is world renowned for its superior meat quality, and our cross-bred Wagyu program consists of F1s to F3s, delivering mid to high marble score product.”
AA Co’s Master Kobe took out the Champion of the Wagyu and other breeds class title at the Sydney Royal
Fine Food Show in September, was also a gold medal winner and grand champion of show at the 2011 Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show, and achieved a gold medal at the 2011 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show.
Rangers Valley managing director Don Mackay said it was a great achievement to be recognised by the judges against such high-quality competition.
Rangers Valley owns and operates a 32,000-head feedlot in the New England region of NSW, and currently produce a mix of high-quality, niche products including an expanding crossbred Wagyu program.
