MANOR HOUSE FARM
Minster are pleased to be associated
with Andrew and his Team
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has had a little longer life. It
is proving an effective way
of using black and white bull
calves and we have now
started getting other farmers
to rear calves as well in order
to maintain supply as demand
increases.”
EXPLORING NEW
MARKETS
Another relatively new
phenomenon in the UK cattle
market looks set to be Wagyu
beef. Wagyu cattle originate
from Japan and already have
an incredible reputation for
being the finest beef in the
world. It is early days yet for a
decision to be made as to how
well they will take to the UK
market but early indications
have been promising. Contract
talks are currently being held
with major supermarkets
who have shown more than
purely a passing interest
and Andrew has had an
involvement since attending
a meeting at Askham Bryan
College around four or five
years ago. Ollie White, son
of Andrew White, a beef
farmer in Eastrington, had put
together a farming equivalent
of a Fantasy Football League
for beef and dairy farmers. The
result of it was that the college
took delivery of a trial unit of
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80 calves and the farmers
attending, of whom Andrew
was one, evaluated their
progress.
“The marbling on them looks
great,” he said. “The steak
you get from the Wagyu is
virtually white because there
is so much marbling. When it
is cooked the marbling melts
and leaves a very juicy steak.
The older the animal is kept
the more marbling you get.”
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Since the Fantasy Farming
League Andrew has been
approached by two of his
colleagues: Jonathan Shepherd
and Jim Bloom, who have set
up Wold Beef, whose aim is to
market Wagyu Beef. They are
the ones who are in discussion
with the major supermarkets.
Andrew has now built up
his number of two week old
Wagyu calves a week that he is
rearing on to 12 weeks before
sending to Wold Beef.
“At the end of the day, bull
calves, no matter which herd or
pedigree they come from, need
to find a market somewhere.
Rose veal is certainly making its
mark and we hope it will continue
to rise in popularity. Wagyu beef
will also find its level in the market
place,” Andrew predicts.
Andrew is married to Beverley
and they have two children –
Sam (23) and Beth (21). His
parents, Geoff and Annette, live
close by.
FarmersMart Apr/May 2014
9