ON FARM NATIONAL BUILDING CAPABILITY The searchfor new Looking at Wagyu Nuffields opportunities ANuffield Scholarship There are untapped of organic farming. SNAPSHOT: provides opportunities for “There’s a lot of research Sarah Hughes, current, emerging unconventional showing the health benefits and future grassfed Tumbar Station, of purely grassfed beef, Jericho, Queensland agricultural leaders and organic Wagyu and while its increasing with the opportunity production in Australia, popularity presents l to travel the world to but the fundamentals of opportunity, there are still research their chosen reliability, consistency key challenges that affect primary production and quality remain the viability of large‑scale topic and collaborate critical to success for grassfed Wagyu production,” with industry leaders. large‑scale producers. she said. Each scholar receives Sarah found that although That’s according to Sarah there were niche a $30,000 bursary to Hughes (pictured with complete 16 weeks of her son Harry), who opportunities on offer for those wanting to take Area: group and individual was awarded a Nuffield 68,000ha travel over an 18‑month their grassfed or organic Scholarship in 2017 to Wagyu to the consumer, period. It provides a research the opportunities Enterprise: platform for discovery the fundamentals of quality, Backgrounding Wagyu in Australia for Wagyu reliability and consistency of innovative global production models other steers for premium, farming practice and remain unchanged. long‑fed steer programs than the traditional long‑fed technology, and sows model, along with consumer “The value of the long‑fed the seeds of practice willingness to buy different model is in its ability to Livestock: change back home. carcase cuts. achieve good consistency, 15,000 head Each year MLA sponsors Sarah and her husband Fred and prices, across a whole Pasture: one Nuffield scholarship. manage the certified organic carcase,” she said. Buffel grass Applications for 2020 enterprise that primarily “As attractive as it would Soil: scholarships close 14 backgrounds purebred be to take grassfed all the Sandy loam and clay June 2019. Wagyu steers, consistently way to market, it probably turned‑off year‑round isn’t the most profitable Rainfall: nuffield.com.au/ to several premium model on a large scale, 530mm scholarships long‑fed Wagyu programs, as the lesser degree and including AACo. consistency of marbling, and Sarah Hughes Sarah’s Nuffield research associated variety in cut E: sarah@ revealed that in numerous quality, yields arguably an georginapastoral.com.au markets, grassfed beef inferior product. was in higher demand than “Consistent quality, reliable organic beef, due largely to supply and the proposition the perceived health benefits of value remain fundamental of grassfed beef and the to achieving success with increasing ‘corporatisation’ grassfed or organic beef.” ■ 33