Wagyu Symposium Oct. 10; Wagyu Sale Oct. 11

PULLMAN, Wash. — Carcass data on U.S., Canadian and Japanese Wagyu cattle will be presented at the third Washington State University Wagyu Symposium Oct. 10 at Tyee Motel in Olympia.

The Wagyu is a native Japanese cattle breed that has been attracting a growing following in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. WSU animal scientists have been conducting research on the breed since 1989.

Wagyu beef is famous for high prices, flavor and tenderness. The meat quality is linked to a high degree of marbling not provided by other breeds.

“As far as we know, this symposium will be the only meeting of its kind on the Wagyu breed in North America this year,” said Jerry Reeves, WSU reproductive physiologist.

Keynote speaker Simon Coates, president of the Australian Wagyu Association, will talk about the booming Australian Wagyu industry.

Ray Jussaume, WSU extension trade specialist, is expected to report results from September’s All-Japanese Carcass Contest and Live Animal Show where the world’s highest quality Wagyu will be evaluated.

Canadian carcass data will be presented by Priy Mir of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta.

WSU animal scientists will discuss research on Wagyu carcass expected progeny differences, tenderness and fatty acid data, scrotal circumference of Wagyu bulls, ultrasound correlations with quality grade, feeding American Wagyu for the Japanese market, and WSU’s Wagyu research program at the Flying T-WSU Research and Learning Ranch outside Centralia, Wash.

A $25 registration fee can be paid at the door. A block of rooms at the motel have been set aside for the conference until Sept. 25. Contact the motel at (360) 352-0511 to reserve a room.

For more information about the symposium, contact Jody Nordyke, WSU department of animal sciences, at (509) 335-1203.

A Wagyu livestock sale will be held Oct. 11 at the Flying T Ranch. Sixty lots of full-blood, purebred and percentage Wagyu cattle will be auctioned. The ranch is about 26 miles south of Olympia.

The sale is being sponsored by the Blue Rock Cattle Co., Ellensburg, and the Crescent View Cattle Co.,Whidbey Island.

Contact Gary Kendall (208) 858-2163 for more information on the sale.

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